V38 Issue 3 by Eagle Edition

2020/21

V38 No. 3 4100 Merrell Road Dallas Texas 75229 214.3584368 Friday, Jan. 15 2021

EPISCOPAL SCHOOL OF DALLAS STUDENT NEWSPAPER Georgia critical this election cycle

Thrifting grows in popularity

Team sports beneficial to mental health

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Senate control hinged on Georgia Senate run-off elections, state received more attention than usual

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Second hand clothing seen as more environmentally-friendly than fast fashion

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Absence of sports this summer connects to declines in mental health, several varsity athletes note

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A Country in Disarray U.S. Capitol breach sparks confusion, conversation over state of the nation. Community members share opinions, experiences with the event, pages 14-15

Illustration by Blair Batson

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GEORGIA RUNOFF CHANGES SENATE CONTROL By Katherine Mote Staff writer

his election cycle, Georgia received a significantly greater amount of attention than it had received in the past. Between the tight presidential race in the state that flipped blue for the first time since 1992 and the Senate run-off elections that determined which party would control the U.S. Senate, all eyes have been on Georgia. In November there were two Senate races, one was considered a regular election while the other was a special election due to the retirement of Republican Senator Johnny Isakson at the end of last year because of health issues. As a result, Senator Kelly Loeffler was appointed last year to succeed him. Loeffler had to run in a special election to serve out the remainder of Isakson’s term until 2022. Both elections went to a runoff this year because Georgia law states that the candidate must win over 50 percent of the popular vote.

The candidates for the regular election were David Perdue of the Republican Party and Jon Osoff of the Democratic Party, and Democrat Raphael Warnock challenged Loeffler for Isakson’s seat. “If a senator has to step down for any reason, and in the case [Isakson] had health issues and was just stepping down on his own freewill, [Loeffler] was appointed,” government teacher Kiley McAbee said. “It’s also important not only because there’s two Senate seats, but also it will dictate who controls the Senate, if it will be Republicans or if it will be Democrats.” On Jan. 6, the Associated Press called the races for Warnock and Ossoff. Now, the Senate will be split 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans, and soon-to-be Vice President Kamala Harris will be the tie-breaking vote in favor of the Democrats. This is only the third time the Senate has ever been evenly divided, most recently in 2000 but before that, not since 1953 and 1881. A Democrat-controlled Senate is crucial to the Biden administration’s ability to enact its legislative agenda for issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare and taxes. “[Biden] is definitely going to push

for $2,000 stimulus checks, that seems pretty clear,” McAbee said. “[Having the majority will also help with] passing the Medicare for All agenda as well as possibly forgiving student debt relief, the Democratic party can push in that way.” With Democrats in control of both houses of Congress and the presidency, the legislative agenda will look different, at least for the next two years, than it did during Donald Trump’s presidency. “Democrats have the majority in the Senate now and I think it’s obviously a personal opinion, but for me that signals that now we have a Senate that really values equal opportunity,” alumna and member of Young Democrats of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, Kate Monger ‘17 said. “It’s restoring my faith in that it’s making me hopeful for the future and it was important in my eyes to be able to see that majority and see some hope in the people that are in power.” Monger was involved in the Ossoff campaign through Instagram sponsorships to spread awareness about the election and remind people to vote in the runoff. She had voter information on her Instagram page outlining how to register to vote and

RUNOFF CHANGES DAILY LIFE IN GEORGIA Story and graphics by Katherine Mote Staff writer

“THERE’S FAR LESS VOTER APATHY AND MANY MORE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A REASON TO VOTE.” Chelle Wabrek, Former ESD Head of Middle School

The chaos of election season has dwindled down in Texas but for Georgians, they encountered another political wave during the runoff Senate elections. Former ESD Head of Middle School, Chelle Wabrek and alumna Kate Monger ‘17 are both former Texas residents living in Georgia, and experienced the runoff election. “While Texas is largely ideologically conservative, I feel that ideology more clearly in Georgia, where I am also more aware of a faith component that impacts that ideology,” Wabrek said. “It feels to be much more clearly a conservative state than I ever felt in Texas. The other piece of living in Atlanta, as opposed to the rest of Georgia which you’ll notice just from watching election returns, the difference between Atlanta and in more rural

areas. Atlanta is this center of so many things that happened in the civil rights movement, the impact of Martin Luther King Jr., a strong history of pretty amazing black mayors, and work and activism that they’ve done here is really interesting.” Monger, while not officially part of the Ossoff campaign, worked to spread voter information as well as promote the ideas Ossoff was running on. “By doing these posts and doing sponsorships, I intended to target a lot of my friends [from Emory] but I do know that we got almost a hundred percent voter turnout in our university community, which is amazing,” Monger said. “That’s something that I know we have never reached before but the organization Young Democrats of Emory really

where to vote. “I was able to help share about my experience because I voted early and I was able to point people exactly where to vote, what you need to bring, [and] what you need to do,” Monger said. “I felt really great about being able to help people do that and I felt like I was making a difference.” One of the reasons why there was an uptick in registered voters was the new automatic voter registration that comes with Georgians getting their driver’s license at the age of 18 which was implemented after the presidential election in 2016. This election is hinged on black voters especially because of them making up one-third of the population and two-thirds of the new voters since the last presidential election are people of color whereas white voters make up 53 percent of registered voters in Georgia. “With everything happening this year regarding racism and the pandemic and everything has been affected including the economy,” Monger said. “So many things have been thrown for a loop this year and that has really been what encouraged a lot of people of color and people in communities that are more highly affected by everything [to go vote].”

did a lot too.” Social media has proven to be a useful tactic in reminding others to vote not only in the presidential election but even in the Georgia runoffs, public figures continued to promote and put emphasis on the Senate runoffs. “My Instagram feed reminds me to be registered to vote, every single day,” Wabrek said. “There’s much, far less voter apathy and many more people feel like they have a reason to vote. There is really more conversation about wanting my voice to be heard.” While the presidential election was heavily talked about, this runoff proved what kind of impact the Senate has on presidential power as well as bills and laws such as stimulus money and vaccine distribution. “I got to have conversations with people about the importance of this election and really explore and learn more about why this was so important and it was such a learning opportunity for me,” Monger said. “This was my first year that I was eligible to vote in any election so it was really as much of a learning opportunity for me as it was a way to help and serve as a voice for others.”

Georgia U.S. Senate Runoffs Results (percentages)

50.6

Democrat Jon Ossoff

49.4

Republican David Perdue

Democrat Raphael Warnock

Republican Kelly Loeffler Source: The Associated Press

Students at ESD who followed the Georgia Senate run-off election No 62%

Yes 38%

Source: Nov. 9 poll of 141 students

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CHARLOTTE TOMLIN, FRESHMAN “I don’t think you can ever [really] figure out what is true [regarding politics from social media] because there is a myriad of information being spread. If the information is coming from a big time news outlet, like CNN or The New York Times, I tend to trust it.”

Jan. 15, 2021

BLAIR BRENNAN, SOPHOMORE “Personally, I think doing your own research and not relying on stray [political] posts prevents a lot of conflict we see in our [community] today. If students stop using biased corporations and start researching data and facts, I think this will make a major influence.”

TAYLOR ELLIOTT, JUNIOR

LUCY SINWELL, SENIOR

“I think it’s [very] important to develop your own ideas and not be swayed by others. However, I don’t think strong opinions are [justifiably] formulated based off of things seen on social media. You must assume news, especially political, is in some form biased.”

“Personally, when I see something about politics on social media, I cross check the information with other sources, including CNN and Fox to get perspectives and further information from both sides.”

Photoillustration by Callie Hawkins

Media impacts people’s beliefs on presidential power Social platforms can skew people’s perspectives on the reality of national and global events By Callie Hawkins Staff writer

he President of the United States is the most influential figure in the country, but do people really understand the power the office possesses? The amount of power the person in this position has is often deceiving due to factors like portrayal by the news media that lead to the people’s misunderstanding of this concept. According to a Jan. 11 poll of 178 students, fifty-five percent of students feel like they understand what powers the president has and doesn’t have. The president makes a myriad of decisions in the government, including hiring and firing political appointees to the fifteen executive departments, carrying out passed laws, serving as the commander and chief of the armed forces and issuing executive orders and agreements. While these are the main functions of the president, informally, the president has a great amount of influence on the people and the culture of the country. “I think that while the president has the power to shape culture, the president is ultimately limited to the power that they, as an individual, have in our government, and that is exactly the way that the Founding Fathers wanted it,” Head of Upper School Henry Heil said. “The president, in the world as we know it now and we have known it for a while, defines culture, and I think that that is what the president has most of the impact on in our country.” The only power that the president can carry out on his or her own

international

information

Compiled by Callie Hawkins Staff writer

is the issuing of executive orders president should be allowed to do.” and agreements. In an executive Sophomore Amelia Sinwell agrees agreement, the president can form that the news can have a large impact an arrangement with another on how one views presidential power. country without ratification by the “I think the media does have a U.S. Senate, which a treaty requires. big impact on how the public views Executive orders are directives from their president and his powers, and the president toward an executive the public’s opinions in general,” department of the government. sophomore Amelia Sinwell said. “I Anything the president says, writes think a lot of times there are many down, and even tweets or posts on news sources that are both left and social media can all be regarded as an right leaning, and people listen to executive order. what they want to hear.” In reality, the One prime president cannot example of a do much for the president who country without the abused his power help of Congress. thirty-seventh BASED ON SPECIFIC was By being viewed president Richard as the country’s During NEWS COVERAGES, Nixon. leader, however, the Vietnam War, the president Nixon abused THE MEDIA CAN has a great deal his power in of influence on his attempt to INADVERTENTLY the population in go around the MANIPULATE HOW what he says and law and secretly does and how it is make agreements. covered by the news THE PUBLIC VIEWS Nixon knew that media. the public and CERTAIN TOPICS. “The media is Congress would a really important not allow him to part of our enact what he Bridget Wang, sophomore government and wanted, so, because in a lot of ways, the president is the media serves ultimately in charge as another branch of the troops, he of government,” sent them a secret Heil said. “It does order to invade as many checks on our government Cambodia resulting in his decline as anybody else and sets the agenda in popularity. Punishment for the for the national conversation. If the president abusing his power can media is focused on presidential range from being reprimanded by the power or the abuse of it, that’s what public to getting impeached by the the conversation is about. [President House and even removed from office Nixon] was [one of many who] by the Senate. abused the small amount of power “I think sometimes the [person] that he had to a certain degree in the in the position of the president can eyes of a lot of people at that time, use [their] power malignantly and and went above and beyond what the with bad motivation, especially

with executive orders, because you can’t fight it most of the time,” sophomore Bridget Wang said. “In the case the person in the position of the president [uses their power malignantly], I do not feel like the amount of power is justifiable.” Many other presidents have abused their positions, which has resulted in condemnation from the public, and in a few cases, impeachment for their actions. The media has always played a major role in politics in America. Propaganda and yellow journalism, which represents the newspapers that published information with little to no reliable sources, began to spread in the early twentieth century and has been a continuity in today’s world. Except now, people refer to it as fake news. “The media absolutely has a major influence on the public,” Wang said. “Based on specific news coverages, the media can inadvertently manipulate how the public views certain topics, like the president and the power he holds, and especially because a lot of media is digitized, the audience is fed with information on a daily basis, and it’s hard to confirm and verify the facts.” Fake news has been spread about every president since the founding of the country because biased news sources spread lies or take the president’s actions and words out of context to make them look better or worse than how they actually are. Furthermore, social media’s influence on people’s political beliefs is growing. Seventy percent of upper school students believe social media influences their political views. “The media has a huge impact on how the public views the president,” senior Gina Wilson said. “Social media is a huge part of everyone’s

daily life. It can be easy for the media to influence people’s views and how they view certain people.” Ninety-two percent of students have seen a lot of people posting about politics on social media. Thirty-eight percent claim that this past year was when they started to see an increased amount of people posting about politics on social media. There is disagreement over whether posting about politics is productive. “Students tend to repost a lot of fake news with no regards to the full context,” sophomore Blake Schienberg said. “Pages on Instagram like ‘Chnge,’ which [is a page] I have noticed has been posted a lot, have little to no impact on what actually happens and never shows the real story.” Social media can be an unreliable source to find information about politics and the position of the president; the classroom acts as a more reliable space. In his government class, Heil teaches about all of the powers the president has and how different presidents throughout history have wielded that power, believing that this concept is important to know and understand the truth about the country’s government and its history. “This fall particularly, we have been talking about the election, and I say, ‘Look at the end of the day, let’s remember that whoever is elected cannot individually have that much of an impact on our lives,’” Heil said. “I always lead with that because it lowers the stakes of the conversation of the election or the president. [By saying] ‘No one person can dramatically change the direction of the country’ lowers the stakes and makes the election more symbolic and less personal.”

ENGLAND LOCKS DOWN AGAIN

S. KOREA POPULATION DECLINE

POPE TO GET COVID-19 VACCINE

On Jan. 4, the British Prime Minister announced the second national lock-down due to the spiking of COVID-19 cases in the country. This lock-down is even more strict than the one in March, with stay-at-home orders being far more severe. Essential shopping, exercise, testing for the virus, medical help and work for those who are unable to work from home are the only exceptions for leaving your house.

In 2020, 275,800 babies were born in South Korea while 307,764 people died. The declining population will lead to a strain on the country’s economy. Women in the country struggle to balance motherhood and work, making it undesirable to have babies. Home ownership in South Korea is also difficult due to real estate’s high prices, and the incentives given by the government will not help families much more.

Pope Francis will receive the COVID-19 vaccine next week and said that it is a lifesaving, ethical obligation. He has called on everyone to get the vaccine and believes that to refuse the vaccine is suicidal. He urged for the vaccine to be available and accessible around the world for all people, wanting no nation to be left without inoculation. Image provided by Pixabay

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pandemicpost Steps to vaccination COVID-19 vaccine distribution across the U.S. slower than expected, accelerated development causes hesitation Story and Graphic by Emily Lichty Life Editor

ince COVID-19 was characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March, many people have found hope in the promise of a vaccine for the virus. Now, with 9.94 million doses administered in the U.S. as of Jan. 12, according to the New York Times, that hope is becoming a reality. To get the vaccine developed, approved, manufactured and distributed as quickly as possible, Operation Warp Speed was founded on May 15, 2020 as a collaboration between multiple government organizations, including the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a result, both the Pfizer-BioNTech and the Moderna vaccines have been approved for distribution in the U.S., while several other vaccines are still in development in the U.S., including the CureVac vaccine and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The goal of OWS was to produce and deliver 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines by January 2021. “The development of the vaccine makes me very hopeful,” junior Grace Herburger said. “When teachers ask the few kids who are still learning virtually when they

Some of us are super eager for it to come out, and we are [wondering] where it is... You have to think about how it is produced. It takes time and you want it to be safe Marcia Biggs School Nurse

might return to school, many say ‘when there’s a vaccine.’ I hope that those people will be some of the first to seek vaccination so that we can all learn together on campus as soon as possible” Typically, for a vaccine to be approved, it must undergo a threephase process on a group of humans, with the number of people tested increasing in each phase of the trial. After a Phase 3 trial, the vaccine can then seek approval from the FDA. While Phase 1 and 2 focus mostly on the dosage and safety of the vaccine, Phase 3, which tests thousands of people, focuses on the efficacy rate. Jim Anderson, a senior sales rep at Balfour Publishing, and the rep for ESD’s yearbook, is one of roughly 30,000 people who participated in the Phase 3 trial for Moderna, an American biotechnology company. “Most of my friends were not willing to do it,” Anderson said. “[I thought] it might not work at all, but I was pretty sure it would work because I [participated in] Phase 3. The only concern was whether it would have some side effects that would be highly undesirable…It just seemed like something that needed to be done, and I’ve been fortunate to have good health my whole life.” Anderson did experience side effects from the vaccine after receiving injections. According to CNBC, possible side effects that Moderna and Pfizer recipients could experience include fever, exhaustion, body aches and headaches. The

Moderna and Pfizer trials were blind trials, meaning the participants of the trial did not know if they were receiving a placebo or the actual vaccine. “I ran a fever for 24 hours [that was] two degrees above normal,” Anderson said. “They warned us that when you get the second shot… your reaction would probably be more intense…Somebody who reacts a little bit the first time, [probably] reacts a lot more the second time. And the second time, [I had] a one degree fever but actually had much more body aches and general discomfort.” Both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines have been approved for emergency use in the United States and continue to be monitored and developed. The distribution of these vaccines to certain groups, including adults 75 and older, essential workers and those with high-risk conditions, has begun. “The development of vaccines takes a very long time,” an epidemiologist who prefers to remain anonymous and works for one of the federal health agencies said. “What we are not going to know is the long term effects of this vaccine, and for how long the protection lasts… We haven’t followed the people [participating in the clinical trials] for a very long time. They will continue following them even after the vaccine is provided.” Moderna and Pfizer are the first licensed mRNA vaccines in the U.S. General surgeon and parent Alexandra Lovitt received the Pfizer vaccine as a member of its Phase 3 trial. While many vaccines use weakened germs to build immunity, mRNA vaccines teach cells in the body how to make proteins which help protect the body from infection. “It’s actually very exciting to be

part of new technology,” Lovitt said. “I’m honored to have been able to participate… I [am] proud to have been a part of it.” To distribute the vaccine, the U.S. created several groups who are prioritized to receive the vaccine first. Here in Texas, group 1A includes health care personnel and those living in long term care facilities and group 1B includes people 65 years old and older and people 16 years of age and older with at least one chronic medical condition. The state’s Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel is still considering which priority populations will be included in group 1C. The vaccine is being distributed to the recipient at no cost to them. Nurse Marcia Biggs received the Moderna vaccine on Dec. 29 and sees it as an extra “layer” of protection, instead of as a replacement for other precautions. “The vaccine doesn’t really change anything for me,” Biggs said. “I think of it more as another layer of protection. Think about how when you go out in the cold and you wish you had one more layer. I have that extra layer… It doesn’t replace any layers.” Some Americans are hesitant to take the vaccine, regardless of availability. In a national survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation on Dec. 15, 71 percent of adults would definitely or probably get a vaccine for COVID-19. According to a Jan. 13 poll of 178 students, 69 percent of students would be willing to take the vaccine. “If you don’t reach 70-75 percent [of the population vaccinated], then the virus will continue,” the epidemiologist we interviewed said. “[The vaccines] will not stop the transmission…You need to have the two vaccines, one month apart….

People are hesitant because they don’t know the long term effects in vaccine side effects of these vaccines. Nor [do] we know exactly what the long term immunity is by this vaccine.” So far, the progress of vaccine distribution is behind the government’s initial schedule. On Jan. 4, OWS adviser Moncef Slaoui discussed an observed lag in vaccine distribution in the U.S., possibly resulting from the holiday season. The cause for such a lag is unknown, but Slaoui claims that the pace has picked up and over 500,000 people are currently receiving the vaccine per day. However, many are concerned that the undistributed vaccines will expire before they can be put to use. According to AARP, an American non-profit organization that provides information to people 50-years old or older, as of Jan. 8, Texas had administered 527,533 first doses of COVID-19 vaccines developed by both manufactures, and 13,979 people had received both doses. They also published that less than 50 percent of the doses Texas had received by Jan. 8 from the federal government had been administered. “Some of us are super eager for it to come out, and we are [wondering] where it is, and why it is not coming faster,” Biggs said. “You have to think about how it is produced. It takes time and you want it to be safe… you want it to be effective, and sometimes you have to wait a while. That’s what we are doing now.”

TEXAS VACCINE DISTRIBUTION PHASES At least 978,042 people in Texas have been vaccinated. The state has distributed 1,984,225 vaccines Phase 1A 1A First Tier

Hospital workers working with COVID-19 patients or at high-risk contracting the virus, workers working with people vulnerable to get COVID-19 (nursing home, assisted living facilities workers, home healthcare workers, and hospice care), EMS providers and long term care facility residents.

1A Second Tier

Outpatient care staff who interact with COVID-19 symptomatic patients, staff working at emergency care facilities and urgent care clinics, staff distributing COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, medical examiners, funeral home workers, and school nurses.

Phase 1B

Phase 2

People 65 years of age and older and people 16 years of age and older with at least one chronic medical condition that makes them more vulnerable for a severe COVID-19 illness.

It is currently unknown which group will receive vaccine next because there is still a large amount of vaccines needed to distribute for Phase 1A and 1B.

Sources: Texas Department of State Health Services as of Jan. 13

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Jan. 15, 2021

Dance department hosts annual drive and recital Middle and upper school dance holds Teddy Bear Drive donation for Toys for Tots and posts online recital

By Grace Knudson Photo Editor

espite not being able to hold in-person performances, the middle school and upper school dance program hosted their Fourth Annual Teddy Bear Drive, and they posted an online video of holiday-themed dances to share with the community. In previous years during the winter holidays, Middle and Upper School Dance Teacher Glen Dawson held a Teddy Bear Drive for the community where students, faculty, staff and parents used a teddy bear donation as their ticket to watch the winter dance recital. After the event the dancers donated the stuffed animals to Scottish Rite Hospital. Additionally, both middle school and upper school dance performed festive dances at school, including a dance with the teddy bears donated. Due to COVID-19, the Scottish Rite Hospital did not accept donations this year, and dance recitals at the school could not be open to the public. But to continue the tradition, the dance department chose to donate teddy bears to Toys for Tots, an organization run by the

TWIRLS FOR TOYS Eight grader Samantha Wu does a pirouette in her solo dance for the winter dance recital and Teddy Bear Drive. She has danced in this event for the past four years. “The meaning behind the Teddy Bear Dance is very special and heart-felt,” Wu said. “I especially like the winter recital because of the music is uplifting and different than any other music we use in other recitals.” Photo by Grace Knudson

U.S. Marine Corps, to distribute space in the dance room to film the Christmas gifts to children, and dances. This performing space had created a video compilation of a make-shift light display and two middle school Christmas trees and upper made from ladders. school dances “What’s neat choreographed about this year throughout is we don’t have November and to hurry and NOT BEING ABLE December. rush on a single “This year has performance day,” TO PREFORM IN been a hardship Dawson said. “We in one way but can work on one FRONT OF PEOPLE made it easier dance video a HAS BEEN VERY in other ways,” single day to make Dawson said. sure the costumes INTERESTING, BUT IT “The girls were and choreography worried if they looks good and HAS BEEN A GOOD could share their then the next day facial expressions we can work on CHALLENGE. with the mask on, another dance.” but I told them if In addition to you really dance the Teddy Bear Samantha Wu, and put in a lot Drive and dance Eighth grader of energy and recital, Dawson feelings while used to take her dancing, you middle school don’t notice that and upper school you are dancing students to dance with a mask. I at the Northpark always tell them to dance by selling it holiday performance. However, with your eyes.” Northpark did not offer in-person While the dance performances performances this year due to the usually take place in the Bray pandemic, which left Dawson and Performance Hall, this year the dance dancers hopeful they could submit department set up a performing a video to Northpark that would be

displayed on their website, but it did not go through. “We had a lot of our dances ready since Thanksgiving because we were preparing for Northpark,” Dawson said. “But Northpark said they had all these stipulations and we had to pay extra money to submit a video which we did not want to do and that was a downer.” Sophomore Cren Boyd has participated in the Northpark holiday performances since seventh grade as well as the Teddy Bear Drive and dance recital. “The Christmas dances are my favorite of all year, and I was upset we could not perform at Northpark this year because it’s a fun outing with all of the dancers,” Boyd said. “I’m glad we still have a Teddy Bear Drive because it includes everyone in the community, we are giving something back to a community in need and bringing smiles to people’s faces.” Because upper and middle schoolers were online the week after Thanksgiving, dancers practiced on Google Meet. The fifth graders created a dance involving their Christmas tree and when they returned back to school the next week, they filmed the dance together. “The fifth graders kept on showing me their Christmas tree while we were online so I told

STAGE TO CAMERA Sophomore Cren Boyd dances as the Grinch for the winter online recital video, which was choreographed by middle and upper school dance teacher Glen Dawson. Dawson transformed her dance studio into a performance room with makeshift lighting and Christmas trees. “We have been preparing for the dances the same way but there has been no performance space for us because of Theaters set in the Bray,” Dawson said. “I decided to set up our own space in the dance room and now we don’t have to hurry on filming the dances.” Photo by Grace Knudson

everybody to get by their tree and gave everybody a day of the 12 Days of Christmas and came up with a movement for each day,” Dawson said. “We took lemons and made lemonade and now we have a dance we can use in front of the Christmas tree in the dance room.” Eighth grader Samantha Wu has been a part of the Teddy Bear Drive and dance performance the past four years. Wu has also danced out of school and has never experienced performing without an audience. “Not being able to perform in front of people has been interesting, but a good challenge,” Wu said. “It has amazed me how many dances we have learned, but I’m glad we get to share our hard work with the community.”

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Turning back time Rather than having a musical this year, the theater department will perform “The Crucible,” the Eagle Edition gathered photos from previous musicals

By Blair Batson Editor-in-chief

“G

rease,” “Cinderella,” “Little Women,” “Into the Woods”—every year, the school’s theater department selects an engaging show to put on for the community. “For me, my love of theater started with musicals, so the musical to me is always very important, and it is something I did as a student here,” Performing Arts Department Chair Lauren Redmond ‘01 said. “I think it is extremely important that students, whether they’re onstage or they’re just coming to watch, get to experience different kinds of theater, so having a straight play as well as a musical is always a nice balance because it’s the best of both worlds.” Normally, the musical would be held in the late winter or early spring; however, with COVID-19, Redmond and Upper School Choir Teacher Joe Snyder made the decision to replace the musical with a play this year. The play will be “The Crucible,” which takes place during the Salem witch trials. “[Not having a musical this year is] hard because I love musicals, and you get a lot more students who want to audition for the musical, so it’s a nice way to see more students,” Redmond said. “So it’s a little heartbreaking but completely understandable given the situation. Mr. Synder and I made the decision together given that singing inside is really a struggle right now, so the safest method was to do a play. Hopefully we get it back next year.” With the musical on hold this year, the Eagle Edition decided to compile images from past musicals as a way to look back on this school tradition.

SHOWSTOPPING Students take the stage as they perform in the annual musicals. Clockwise from the top left, “Cinderella,” performed in 2018, “Grease,” performed in 2013, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” performed in 2020, “Kiss Me, Kate,” performed in 2012 and “The Wizard of Oz,” performed in 2015. Photos provided by Lauren Redmond and the ESD Yearbook staff

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Jan. 15, 2021

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WORX program provides virtual internships

inbrief

By Carolyn Langford Copy Editor

Schedule changes allows before-school sports practice AFTER CREATING A LATER START IN THE SECOND semester schedule, some sport teams began practicing in the morning instead of after school. Head of Upper School Henry Heil sent out an email on Dec. 17 regarding the new changes to the upper school schedule, one of which included a pushed back 9:30 a.m.

start to classes. This decision was made so students could engage in clubs, participate in athletic practice, get work done before class or benefit from extra sleep. “With the repurposing of athletic spaces to accommodate the need for socially-distanced classrooms, [the later start] has helped alleviate the facility strain which occurs after school,” Director of Athletics Dan Gill said. Junior Emilye Dullye, who plays on the varsity womens soccer team, has benefited from the new schedule changes that allow her team to hold practices in the mornings. “I have enjoyed the new changes that allow the team to practice in the mornings,” Dullye said. “Even though we still have to wake up early to attend practice, we get to leave school at 3:45 like everyone else, so I have a lot more time in the afternoon.” Due to COVID-19 restrictions, some of the original athletic spaces around campus, such as the Auxiliary Gym and Wrestling Room, have now been modified to use as classrooms, limiting spaces for teams to hold practices. “As a department, we have tried to get creative with the spaces available to us,” Gill said. “So we can safely execute all our winter sports programs.” Although the change is new and has taken time to get used to, Dullye is glad she still gets to have practice BEFORE-SCHOOL BALLERS Varsity mens basketball players Chase despite COVID-19 regulations this year. Kennedy, Colby Henderson and Reid Moorman adjust to their new “Even though this year has changed a lot of things morning practices. Many students have mixed opinions about the for sports teams, I am glad that these new schedule early morning practices, despite the schedule allowing for more changes are allowing [the teams] to find ways to sleep. “ Moorman said. practice at school,” Dullye said. “Although COVID-19 Photo by Madison McCloud has made things difficult, I am grateful I still get to play soccer.”

By Kara Dross

Film festival on hold, developing new plan Each year the ESD film festival takes place during January, featuring around 10 to 15 student-produced films. This year, the festival is in limbo as the film program figures out the details for how the festival will run in a pandemic

setting. This will be the seventh year officially since the festival began in 2014. The festival showcases a range of talent, from Intro to Film students’ work to AP Film students’ work. Despite the circumstances the pandemic has created, many students in the film program are hoping the festival will be held. “I think this year, with a lot more people in AP Film, really represents the ESD film program growing,” senior Ava Thompson said. “We have people doing a huge breadth of genres, from experimental, to documentary, to narrative, to comedy—you name it, we have somebody doing it. So we definitely want to bring that to attention.” Thompson’s favorite part about the film festival is watching people watch their films on the big screen. “I think it’s really funny because it’s also very nerve wracking because a lot of times only your closest friends have seen [your film] until it’s shown and maybe your parents are seeing it for the first time,” Thompson said. Thompson cherishes this school tradition and the community the film program has provided her. “Film has felt a lot like a community this year with so many more people doing AP Film,” Thompson said. “It’s just been a very nice experience.”

By Blair Batson

FILM FIASCO Film students present final projects at the January 2020 film festival. Students were disappointed to postpone one of their favorite traditions but excited to share their work. “There are a ton of films to be shown,” senior Ava Thompson said. “There’s stuff as a film program that we want everybody to see.” Photo provided by Ava Thompson

Students take exams after Christmas break After the pandemic caused some students to switch to online classes, a small percentage of them had to adjust to taking exams after the Christmas break. This created a situation where students needed to both attend regular classes and take two hour exams after school.

TEST TRIBULATIONS Sophomore Corbin Lane completes her Chemistry midterm in the Auxiliary Gym after Christmas break. For many, this caused stress to have classwork in the midst of exams. “I felt so overwhelmed throughout my exams because I was quarantined when everyone else took them,” junior Mary Lou McMillan said. Photo by Carolyn Langford

In a Dec. 17 email sent by Head of Upper School Henry Heil, the school community was informed that 98 percent of students were able to take exams as scheduled the week before break. “I hope we can appreciate the goal of on-time, in-person exams being achieved,” Heil said. “ESD believes strongly in exams as a vital part of our rigorous curriculum and unparalleled preparation for life beyond Merrell Road. I am grateful to everyone in our community for making this happen.” Despite the efforts of the school administration to make exams accessible to all students prior to break, senior Ellie Bass was one of the few students whose exams had to be pushed back to the week after the Christmas break. “I took my exams on Wednesday and Thursday after school the first week we got back,” Bass said. “It was more stressful [than taking exams as regularly scheduled] because I had to study while doing other homework that week.” In addition to the stress of managing schoolwork and exams at the same time, Bass had concerns over the testing environment she had to work in. “The [auxiliary] gym was super loud during after school testing because of little kids running around and basketball practice next door,” Bass said. “We [also] couldn’t [take exams] in before school testing.”

By Victoria Willox

irtual accommodations likely to receive an internship suited for the WORX Internship to their hobbies and interests or one Program will allow that sets them apart. And students students to receive valuable may feel more comfortable when career exposure within the safety of applying to colleges if they know they their home. are passionate about their major. WORX is a program that partners “We’ll find that students will either students with professionals be more solidified in what they want associated with the school to provide to do for their major based on their summer internship opportunities to internship work,” Montgomery said. rising seniors. During their junior “I think sometimes, even to their best year, students interested in the interest, they’ll find that they maybe WORX program create a resume weren’t as interested in that.” and fill out an application to move This year, as a result of many forward to the interview process. If companies operating virtually and selected and matched, students can added safety precautions, a select accept an internship in a field of number of internships will be held their interest to intern with during virtually. the summer. “It really depends on what the “I have heard lots of good employers are comfortable with,” experiences from people that have Montgomery said. “So I would say done it in the past and I would like to that I think everyone would like to gain some work experience,” junior do it in-person, if possible. Some Kai Robinson said. “I think I would companies have not fully gone back probably interview for an internship to their office settings so they are still that is involved with medicine of remote themselves.” some sort.” Potentially, virtual internships WORX is designed to find may face a challenge for students, internships every year that are a good preventing them from applying. fit for each student based on their However, students should still take application. Alumna Emily Delgado advantage of the valuable learning ‘20 shadowed a pediatrician during opportunities. the summer of 2019 when she was “I think that WORX provides such considering a career in medicine but a unique experience to students, wasn’t sure if she would like it. and while it may be virtual this year, “By participating in WORX, I it can still be educational and have was able to see and an impact,” Delgado experience a day said. “I recommend in the life of an students take EVEN IF IT IS actual doctor from advantage of such a the moment that unique opportunity ONLINE YOU they walk into the like WORX because doctor’s office to it offers such valuable CAN STILL when they finish advice on things such with the last patient DEVELOP HELPFUL as job interviews, of the day,” Delgado professional PROFESSIONAL said. “Because communication and the pediatrician insight on various AND WORKI shadowed saw career specialties.” many patients each But numerous RELATED SKILLS. day, I was able to students are still see how medical jumping at the chance Kai Robinson, care was given to to participate. junior children of different “I think that ages including participating in person new born babies. I is obviously better loved my internship and because of than online, however, I think it is it, I realized that I absolutely want still worth participating because to go into the medical field and I getting experience even if it is online am currently a pre-med student in would be beneficial to me,” Robinson college.” “Also, even if it is online you can still The program goes above develop helpful professional and and beyond in hope of finding work-related skills that you can use internships that will provide a unique for the rest of your life.” learning experience for student’s With the world changing so rapidly, interest. WORX partners with the students will get a sense of what school’s Fine Arts Network board in could be the new normal for many search of more untraditional, artistic companies. opportunities. “I think [there are] valid concerns “We’ve had students beyond about the opportunity to be inthe set of films, taking pictures for person versus remote, but one of the a company’s website [or] helping things that the WORX Internship them revamp some of their social opportunity does is provides students media…,” WORX and College with at least a sense of working Guidance Coordinator Katherine remotely right now,” Montgomery Montgomery said. “Oftentimes, one said. “In the real world we are of the things we ask about [is] extra probably going to see more and skill sets. I would encourage students more companies moving to a remote who are outside of those like main system, saving money on office space well-known industries to rank some and changing the opportunities so of those other industries that they’re that they don’t have to move their interested in learning more about employees to a different state or higher up.” different cities, so I do think that By requesting more unique fields no matter if it’s virtual or in-person and skill sets, students are more you’ll learn a lot.”

WORX WORKSHOP After completing their interview, alumni April Sarles ‘17 and Charles Paxton ‘17 discuss the companies they hope to internship at in 2017. This year, students will have to complete interviews virtually. “WORX is a great way of exploring future career options and seeing what might interest you while you’re still in high school,” alumna Emily Delgado said. Photo provided by Katie Voss

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Sophomore hopes to pursue art beyond high school Cecily Northcut develops passion for sketching, focuses on learning from Studio Art classes By Grace Knudson Photo editor

er sketchbook rests inside the depths of her backpack filled with textbooks and loose notes, but whenever she has an idea for her next piece, sophomore Cicely Northcut finds a place to sit and draw. Northcut, who primarily focuses on sketching, has participated in art classes since she was in lower school. Now, in upper school, she is enrolled in Studio Art, and she also draws in her free time. She enjoys cartoon-style drawing and works with graphite pencils when sketching. “When I was really little, I was encouraged to do art because it sparks creativity and I never really stopped,” Northcut said. “I continued to develop my love for art, and it is something I really enjoy doing. My style of drawing is more like a cartoony, not realistic style. While I love graphite sketching, I love to experiment with different art mediums like colored pencils or watercolor.” Last year, Northcut attended the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in downtown Dallas to focus primarily on her art, but she decided to come back to ESD this year for more structure in school life while still focusing on art. “Obviously, Booker T. is a very good school for art and going on to do art later in life, and as someone who is interested in continuing to do art past high school, I wanted to try it out,” Northcut said. “I loved the art program so much, and it was really good, but there were other aspects

of the school that made me want to come back to ESD.” When thinking about what to draw, inspiration comes to Northcut through the music she listens to, artists’ artwork she sees through social media and events in the news. Northcut focuses her graphite sketching on people: mainly characters she imagines in her mind but also people in real life. “Whenever I draw, I pretty much always draw people and characterdesign related things,” Northcut said. “While I should draw from a reference point, I usually draw people from some idea in my head about some random character quality, and I think ‘Oh! That could make this piece have an edge to it.’ Of course, I have people that always ask me to draw them, and that’s also fun to do, and it makes them happy to see what I come up with.” Upper school Studio Art teacher Juan Negroni has taught Northcut this year in a class that was Studio Art I first semester and is Studio Art II second semester. This is Negroni’s first year teaching, and he will continue to mentor Northcut for the rest of her time in high school. “I am lucky enough to say that 100 percent of my students are good in different ways either in discipline, hard work or [they] are very talented,” Negroni said. “Cicely is one of those students that completes the full circle: she works hard, is focused, is interested in the class and is talented.” After high school, Northcut wants to continue the arts in college and hopes to make a career out of it in the future. While none of her family members are focused in the art field, they continuously support her through her journey. “My family always encourages me to do something I enjoy, and they

are always interested in what I am creating,” Northcut said. “I definitely want to continue some sort of artrelated major in college because it’s such an interesting activity, and there is always something more to experience in the field. Other than academics, this is my main hobby, and this is the most viable thing that I’ll continue in some form or another for a career.” Throughout the coming years, Negroni hopes to help Northcut continue to work hard and have high aspirations in her art work. As it is both their first year in the upper school, Negroni hopes to form a strong teacher-student relationship

with Northcut to learn more about her and her style of art. “My main focus with Cicely has been to give her some agency even though we have some structure in the classroom,” Negroni said. “I try to be flexible with her in class with assigned work because I know she has a different way of seeing what she’s producing in class, and I want her to continue thinking out of the box. I want to pick her brain a little bit more and work together with her future plans, her interests, so I can guide her better and explore the things she likes. That will be super helpful for the both of us, and I can guide her better for her future.”

THE ARTISTIC EYE As she teaches herself new techniques for her pieces, sophomore Cicely Northcut gets inspired by other artists’ artwork. Northcut is currently enrolled in Studio Art II with Studio Art teacher Juan Negroni. “My main focus in studio art classes is to have students spend quality time with the object they are working with,” Negroni said. “I know sometimes the exercises can be boring, but it is helping developing skills, and Cicely understands that.” Photo by Blair Batson

COMMUNITY FACES PANDEMIC FATIGUE AS COVID-19 CASES RISE People feel burnt out due to social distancing and precautions as they ensure safety for COVID-19 By Grace Worsham Staff writer Sophomore Amber Donahue tries to stay motivated as she talks to her teachers through her computer screen. Once at school, the blue mask around her face helps hide her emotions, but she can no longer fight the pandemic fatigue that takes over her life, or so she thinks. As defined by the World Health Organization, pandemic fatigue is the demotivation to follow recommended protective behaviors, emerging gradually over time with a variety of emotions. Throughout the United States, it has become especially prominent as the pandemic continues to worsen. According to National Public Radio, the number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. has exceeded any other nation, reaching past 10 million. This is largely thought to be due to pandemic fatigue.

“I have seen [pandemic fatigue] across the board from students to parents to providers,” Clinical Psychologist Dr. Matthew Housson said. “What is becoming demoralizing for people is the question of when it is going to end.” Upper School Emotional Wellness Counselor Meredith Stuelpe said that she is experiencing some fatigue herself, similar to most faculty and students. “I feel a little suffocated,” Stuelpe said. “[I] want to be able to do the things [I] love, so I have been feeling a sense of loss because the things that usually fill up my life are not there.” There are many ways to cope with this fatigue by using beneficial tools such as meditation. A meditation group for teachers is being held and led by upper school history and religion teacher Kimberly Rogers and English teacher Antonia Moran. “I absolutely think that stress and anxiety and boredom can hijack our

sense of well being,” Rogers said. “I think meditation is a brilliant way of training our mind to deal with difficult emotions without being overwhelmed with them.” To coincide with meditation, mindfulness is a quick and effective way to stay in tune with yourself. “[Mindfulness] is kind of like a river,” Housson said. “Flowing down that river of your thoughts and your feelings gets everybody recentered. Yoga, meditation, prayer or anything that evokes that spiritual part of our being is a really good way to get people resettled.” It has been proven most helpful when one keeps a consistent sleep schedule, exercises and socializes. However, there are other creative ways to stay motivated. “I am a huge believer in long walks, but the other thing I am intentional about doing is looking at my garden,” Rogers said. “I look at flowers… because I really do think

83 percent of students have experienced pandemic fatigue

28 percent of students believe meditation can help with pandemic fatigue Source: Jan. 11 poll of 178 students

looking at beauty can make you feel better. You just have to seek it out.” While there are many ways to combat fatigue alone, it is important to have human interaction. Housson explains human nature and the imperativeness of socializing but emphasizes maintaining one’s safety and health. “Human beings are social animals,” Housson said. “So, keeping up the social connection, even though we have to be spaced and masked, is really important in getting everybody past the pandemic fatigue.” Another way that helps Stuelpe stay motivated is keeping a positive attitude and mindset. “Try to remember that [this] will not last forever and that better days are ahead,” Stuelpe said. “We are all just doing our best and that is all anyone can expect… Although we have lost much to this virus, we will bounce back stronger than ever.”

life

Jan. 15, 2021

Fashion’s future: fast vs. sustainable Students explore thrifting and sustainability, others rely on fast fashion for trends By Elisabeth Siegel and Maddy Hammett Staff writers

FAST FASHION

FACT VS. FICTION

t’s no surprise that after years of seeing marketing centered around sustainability, teens are beginning to turn to more environmentally friendly options. One of these options is buying secondhand clothing from thrift stores. According to the latest version of Piper Sandler’s “Taking Stock with Teens” survey, about 46 percent of American teens from upper-income households have purchased clothing secondhand, and according to a Jan. 10 poll of 178 students, 56 percent have purchased clothing secondhand. The secondhand clothing market is set to reach $64 billion in the next five years. Largely spreading through various social media platforms, thrifting has become the hottest new trend. Sophomore Annabelle Heppner prefers shopping at thrift stores over fast fashion labels, believing that when deciding to thrift, the pros greatly outweigh the cons. “It’s better to buy from thrift stores because you can find anything in a thrift store, and it will last much longer than the clothes from a fast fashion company,” Heppner said. “I just don’t feel like buying fast fashion is worth it. There’s no need for fast fashion companies. They sell clothes you could find anywhere for cheap, then the clothes fall apart after two wears.” Some students prefer buying secondhand clothing because they can find pieces that tailor to their individual style preferences or even vintage, one-of-a-kind pieces. “I really like buying clothes from thrift stores because [the clothes] are more unique and definitely more my taste,” Heppner said. “I can find pieces in Goodwill that I can’t find in any other store.” Social media users, especially Instagram and TikTok influencers, have played a huge role in spreading the thrift store craze. Youtubers such as Best Dressed, rachspeed and Hailey’s corner post videos on the site buying secondhand clothing and “flipping” them into more trendy, wearable pieces. “I got into thrifting [three] summers ago, when I got my wisdom teeth removed,” Ashley (Best Dressed) said in an interview with Tubefilter. “Deep in chipmunk mode, I needed a distraction, so I tried thrifting for the first time, and to my surprise found some actually cute stuff. Since I was still working at an ice cream store for minimum wage, I started a side hustle reselling thrifted clothes on Poshmark and Depop. That little business has blossomed into my website ‘bestdressedstore.com’ today.” Thrifting has served as an outlet for creativity and expression for many. Social media apps such as Instagram have played a huge role in shifting trends over to thrifting. “Social media definitely played a part in my thrifting experience,” Heppner said. “Instagram gives me inspiration, and I can pick out clothes at thrift stores from that.” For sophomore Cren Boyd, her thrifting experience started at a young age because she often threw away expensive clothes she had worn for a long time. “I’ve been thrifting [since] before it got famous,” Boyd said. “I [shop] at random indie places. The big places to thrift, the Goodwills and Salvation Armies, are not that great. First of all, they are overpriced. Second of all, people donate really low-quality stuff. The small [shops] have a different vibe, so I shop there instead.” However, some argue that it’s unethical when those who can afford buying new clothes at regular stores shop at thrift stores. Some even splurge on clothing at thrift stores and sometimes sell goods for higher prices on online thrift stores such as Depop and Thredup. The individuals who heavily rely on thrift stores may be prevented from buying the items and clothing they need when too many people shop at the store. “If I go to Goodwill to thrift, I never take winter clothes or jeans, I’ll only go there for shirts,” sophomore Reid Ackerman said. “It’s kind of unethical to take clothes from people who actually need cheaper options.” Online thrift stores have recently become a way for anyone to sell clothes that they upcycled or don’t want anymore instead throwing them away. Among these stores are sites like Poshmark and Grailed. “I’ll take some of the old clothes sold and turn them into new tops,” Heppner said. “I do tend to go to these sites; they draw my attention because they are different, unique and really my taste.” Many have started thrifting to avoid the unsustainable practice of fast fashion. Fast fashion makes shopping more affordable but uses cheap, toxic textile dyes, with the fashion industry being the secondlargest ocean polluter. “Thrifting is definitely better for the environment than buying from a fast fashion corporation like Forever 21,” Heppner said. “There is no need for all these people to buy these clothes in the long term because they will just have to keep rebuying once the clothes fall apart.” Sustainable fashion designer and expert Clara Vuletich in a Ted Talk about how to engage with ethical fashion talks about consumerism. She explained that most Americans have an idea ingrained in their head that more equals better and details the flaws of the fast fashion industry. “Fast fashion has turned us into these passive consumers,” Vuletich said. “We are constantly chasing this idea that buying more clothes will make us happier.” For some consumers, fast fashion is necessary due to affordability of the latest trends. For those who don’t have access to thrift stores or pricey sustainable brands, fast fashion may be the only option. “I don’t necessarily like [fast fashion], but I understand the need for it,” Boyd said. “You can’t judge people by their financial situations. Some people don’t have access to a thrift store; the closest one to my house is 30 minutes away.”

MYTH

Buying from sustainable fashion brands is the best way to reduce your fashion footprint.

FACT

The best way to reduce a fashion footprint is by buying less and avoiding overconsumption.

Thrifted

MYTH

Brands that call themselves sustainable are sustainable.

FACT

The term “sustainable” is so broad that many fashion companies use this term to generate business, and do the bare minimum to ethically create clothing.

MYTH

The more expensive the clothing item, the less likely workers have been exploited.

FACT

Workers conditions can be exploitive, regardless of the price point. Many midprice and premium fashion brands produce in the same factories as discount brands.

Sustainable brand

MYTH

Donating clothes is a sustainable way to clean out your closet.

FACT

Photos and graphics by Elisabeth Siegel

Your donated clothes are more likely to be shipped overseas to resale markets in developing countries, negatively impacting local industries and contributing to landfills. Thrift and charity stores are only able to sell 10 percent of the clothes donated, while Africa receives 70 percent of global second hand clothes.

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thebuzz

“My favorite memory of 2020 was definitely making Christmas cookies with my family. Usually we’re out of town over Christmas break, but because of COVID we decided that it would be best if we stayed at home this year. Although I didn’t know it at the time, this was truly a blessing in disguise. I got to spend time that I usually wouldn’t spend with my family making Christmas cookies. This was for sure a Christmas that I will never forget.”

Stevenie Nussbaumer, freshman

Looking back

From binging TV shows to camping, students, faculty share their favorite moments from 2020 By Blair Batson and Evelyn Zhao Co-Editors-in-chief

““My favorite moment was getting out of school and finally relaxing after all the chaos that COVID brought. I just really enjoyed being able to relax and have some time to myself. I watched so many shows, and I got to spend it all doing activities, reading and binge watching so many Netflix shows. Summer was just a breath of fresh air, and even though staying social was more challenging, I still made some great memories with friends and family.”

“We got a new puppy during quarantine, and when we were coming in, I was driving my car in the driveway and [the puppy] immediately ran away. It took about two hours trying to find [the puppy] but then we found it, and it was playing with a squirrel. It was very relieving [to find the puppy], but I also felt very annoyed because it was literally two hours running around the neighborhood looking [for the puppy].”

“This summer, I went on a hike in Telluride up to this waterfall... I saw some pretty cool wildlife, and then there was this dry river bed we went across...There were two mini waterfalls which was fun. At first I was like, ‘oh, okay this waterfall is much smaller than I thought it was’ but then when we got to the final one, I was amazed because it was probably 70 feet of water.”

“My favorite memory from 2020 was going camping at various state parks around Texas. I went to Eisenhower, Mineral Wells, Inks and Pedernales Falls. It was great to be in nature, and it was an easy way to be distanced from people and avoid getting COVID. The lizards at Inks wag their tails like dogs—what?.”

Bridget Wang,

Annie Heldman,

Christopher Hess,

Chris Northrup,

sophomore

junior

senior

mathematics teacher

life

Jan. 15, 2021

Social media, social justice and liberty for all Social networks create platforms for awareness but face disadvantages due to misinformation By Jiaying Fu Web Editor

nstagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter—regardless of the platform, on any given day, your feed is likely filled with posts addressing issues of social justice. According to a 2020 study by the Pew Research Center, around one third of social media users report having posted in support of political or social issues. “Whenever I post on social media about social justice issues, my goal is to spread awareness and to be vocal about the events that are happening,” sophomore Bridget Wang said. “In my experience, I get more support than backlash, and it comforts me to see that I’m not the only one that feels a certain way about a topic.” Although social media can help raise awareness, there are numerous disadvantages to using these platforms. “There are downsides to posting about social justice issues, one being that it sometimes doesn’t get taken seriously,” Wang said. “It easily turns into something that you have to repost on your story, and serious movements and their message often get lost in the moment. However, it also brings a lot of topics into light. It definitely helps me be more aware of current events and interests me to do more research.”

I POST ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE BECAUSE I AM GENUINELY EXTREMELY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT AND WANT TO SPREAD AWARENESS ABOUT ISSUES PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT. Stella Foreman, senior

For instance, social media discussions often deteriorate into conflict, according to senior Mary Cowser. “I think that when people post a social justice issue on social media, both the poster and the [viewers] aren’t trying to have a conversation,” Cowser said. “This is based on the fact that I have never seen a productive conversation on social media. People always fall back to personal attacks, bringing up old post history and logical fallacies. It’s usually a mess under any social justice post because under anonymity, people feel free to say anything and be as rude as they please.” Furthermore, an increasingly relevant comparison has likened social media to an echo chamber, meaning that social media users pick and choose whose opinions they view on their feed, and similar views are reinforced while differing views are not seen. “I feel like more often than not, social media is not a productive space for political conversations,” alumnus Zan Haq ‘20 said. “As a result, I see more backlash than genuine conversation. Since all communication is constrained by form, oftentimes, Instagram stories end up as political echo chambers. That being said, certain types of political infographics can be useful for spreading relevant information about the world around us.” Additionally, people often post

Graphic by Victoria Willox

about social justice online while not actually taking action to address those issues, which has been termed “slacktivism.” “While I think there are certain political applications of social media that have quantifiable benefits to social movements and liberation strategies, the unfortunate side effect is social media turns activism into a trend for a lot of people,” Haq said. “As a result, people who are often complicit with structures of oppression will go about

performative activism like posting a black square on Instagram to absolve them of their obligations and guilt while simultaneously ignoring activists on the ground and their more radical political demands.” Others believe that social media is not the problem, but rather, the numerous amount of issues make it difficult to create change. “I think that social media is a great tool for spreading awareness,” Cowser said. “Issues do tend to trend and then get ignored—but I don’t

think that’s because of social media. So many new issues pop up every day that it’s impossible to care about all of them and every old one. So, people tend to just move onto the next hot button issue.” Ultimately, genuine advocates hope that social media will lead to awareness and engagement rather than performative action. “I post about social justice because I am genuinely extremely passionate about it and want to spread awareness about issues

people may not know about,” senior Stella Foreman said. “With that being said, I really think that it has become a trend as well and can lead to performative action, which is dangerous. I find people I know who have been racist or are friends with racist people post stuff. This shows that they are posting for the social clout that may come with it, not because they actually want to make change, which is dangerous in a movement that needs active participation.”

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Foreign films take the spotlight in America Films from around the world break through into Hollywood industry made accesible by streaming services

All images published are fair use images.

Story and graphic Gina Montagna “The Internet has democratized films and TV shows, so I think there News Editor is more access to it,” film teacher Bobby Weiss said. “Although I wish there were more, there are so many great foreign films out there. You s the world faced a global could never watch them all. I think as quarantine lockdown last the Internet grows larger, the world year in late March, many becomes smaller, and there’s access students and faculty settled to these [foreign films].” onto their couches and broadened Many filmmakers see “Parasite’s” their film selection to the world of Best Picture win as a huge opening foreign films. for foreign films to take a more At the debut of the Academy Awards prominent role in the American last year, many new foreign films film industry and no longer place came to the spotlight and were in the Foreign Film category. In brought to a wider audience as they the past, foreign films have gotten were shown in many American limited attention from the American theatres. With the arrival of stayfilm industry, largely due to the at-home orders and the pandemic, prominent influence that filmmakers Netflix began to include many from New York and Los Angeles have foreign films and TV series in on Hollywood. their collection, adding a variety of “We omitted a lot of great thrillers, actions and dramas. Now, filmmakers from film history simply foreign films like South Korea’s because American film seemed to “Parasite” and Mexico’s “Roma” have have overshadowed great filmmakers received nominations for Oscars and in other countries,” Weiss said. Golden Globes, even going as far to “I don’t know why people didn’t win Best Picture and Best Directing in the first place pay attention to at the Oscars.

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foreign films. Other countries have been making great films for a long time. My film appreciation class is about tapping into the great foreign filmmakers that the students would otherwise never see.” Film student and senior Ava Thompson has gotten into the habit of watching foreign films, particularly after the breakthrough that “Parasite” made. Although she believes that most foreign films have not been “widely accepted” into America’s mainstream film industry, she still believes it is important to learn about other cultures through art. “I think there is an issue of Americans looking at the American film industry and thinking ‘Oh, yes, this is the film industry... where the only amazing films are,’ which is completely untrue,” Thompson said. “There are thriving film industries across the world and just because something is not popular in America, doesn’t mean it isn’t popular anywhere.” After his time living in South Korea from 2011-2012, physics teacher

Matthew Varvir has grown to love watching Korean films and continues to expand his viewing of foreign films and TV shows. Americans are now more inclined to watch foreign films because they can easily stream them off of streaming services and are able to choose what they want to watch based on Netflix’ recommendations. “The rise of streaming services, like Netflix, has made [foreign films] more accessible,” Varvir said. “Netflix has a humongous catalog. Netflix does their top 10 everyday, and if you ever see anything foreign pop up in that, that means it’s probably something that has international appeal.” But some Americans struggle to watch foreign films as they see the language barrier and subtitles as too much of hassle or distraction to have while watching the film. Having to read quickly while watching a movie in a language one doesn’t understand might seem stressful, yet it actually allows the viewer to better understand the undertones and hidden messages in the script.

“The average American is unwilling to watch things with subtitles,” Varvir said. “Even if things are dubbed, they are very rarely dubbed well. Part of it is that a lot of times, you are not going to notice the cultural undertones. [Foreign films] refer to cultural practices that Americans don’t understand.” However, having to read subtitles should not hinder one from watching foreign films and TV shows. By watching a foreign film, one is able to immerse themselves directly into the culture and ultimately broaden their horizons when it comes to viewing global perspectives. “[People who don’t watch foreign films] are missing out on a humongous piece of film culture and TV culture,” Varvir said. “There’s no question that if a film is good enough and is getting [talked about] internationally, it must be good. The average foreign film is going to be much higher quality than an American film would be because it has to overcome that language barrier to reach people.”

life

Jan. 15, 2021

DFW-based companies adapt to the pandemic Industries face changes in consumer behavior, alter business models and redefine functional properties

CULTURE CRASH is a compilation of significant pop culture events made by Life Editors Emily Lichty and Luke McCabe that highlight tech news & other short snippets of info regarding important people and events from around the globe.

1 2 3 4 5 6

Long story short On Dec. 11, Taylor Swift released a surprise sister album to her album “Folklore,” which was released in July. “Evermore,” an alternative rock album, features guest artists including Bon Iver, the National and HAIM. Swift’s surprise album leaves us wondering if there is more coming from her and theorizing that the pair of albums is a part of a group of three.

Penne for your thoughts Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a shortage of Italian made Bucatini pasta. This pasta variety is popular among pasta lovers because it is a type of spaghetti but thicker and with a hole in it. Many pasta producers decided to limit its production in favor of other shapes, sparking outrage amongst many loyal fans. Not only have people been searching for Bucatini on grocery store shelves, they have also been using the uncooked pasta in replacement of plastic straws, drawing the attention of the FDA. After Rachel Handler, editor of the New Yorker, wrote about her experience with the Bucatini shortage on Dec. 28, the issue went viral.

Royal report

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry released their podcast, Archwell Audio, through a partnership with Spotify on Dec. 29. The podcast focuses on sharing uplifting stories from celebrity guests around the world. Even the pair’s one-year-old son, Archie, contributed to the podcast’s first episode, a holiday special.

By Lauren Weber Managing Editor

t’s no secret that in the past eight “Our latest observations find months, consumer behavior has that many organizations are changed drastically. People have accelerating their cost-reduction traded-in suits for sweatpants, targets, modifying their operating conference rooms for Zoom calls models on the fly and redefining and in-person shopping for online their functional priorities,” Mckinsey alternatives. And companies have & Company published in a Nov. 11 adapted to this new behavior. report. From disrupted global supply Fossil Group, an American chains to mandated store closings, fashion designer and manufacturer virtually no sector has been spared based in Dallas, will continue to the pandemic’s impact, two of the redefine its business model. most affected being hospitality and “Now, we’re realizing [that] to travel. In a Oglesby/Allison Student stay afloat, but also to be the kind of Managed Investment Club meeting company we want to be and [that] on Nov. 19, President of American our consumer wants us to be, it’s not Airlines Group just about sales, and Robert Isom it’s not just about discussed the having markdowns,” airline industry in IT’S ABOUT HAVING Fossil Head of PR particular. Isom and Communications THOUGHTFUL said that their Robyn Sills said. “It’s problem was not about partnering EMAILS AND about excessive with the right inventory but types of people COMMUNICATION significant fixed and organizations. expenses (costs It’s about having THAT MAKE THE that are not thoughtful emails and dependent on the CUSTOMER FEEL communication that amount of goods make the customer LIKE THEY CAN and services feel like they can produced). relate to [our] brand.” RELATE TO [OUR] For American One of Fossil’s Airlines, 30 pandemic initiatives is BRAND. percent of their the “time well spent” passengers email campaign, Robyn Sills, Fossil Head of PR and consist of which began by Communications business providing suggestions travelers, many for at-home activities, of whom are not ideas for maintaining currently taking good mental health business trips. In response, the or ways to keep in touch with friends. company has had to eliminate about But over time, Fossil has been able to 150 of their least fuel-efficient planes. utilize this platform for other positive Despite this change in behavior, impact efforts––they started a however, Isom still believes that voting campaign and educated their people will continue to fly frequently employees about ways to get involved in the future. in their communities. But even after a return to “Creating community has been normalcy, many of the changes super crucial to having longer term enacted during the COVID-19 crisis success,” Sills said. “Right now, will become permanent. And to there’s a lot of options for consumers; examine how the corporate center there’s a lot of different things that is evolving, McKinsey & Company, people can buy. So what I think really a global management consulting sets brands apart is brand [affinity], company, conducted a survey of either that share [consumer’s] values some 300 C-level executives. or partner with people that they can

Rat’s all folks

“Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical” debuted on Jan. 1. The viral musical originated on TikTok, as users all across the app contributed to its production. It was turned into a professional musical in less than a month and streamed for three days, making $1 million in sales. The musical’s star studded cast included Ashley Park, Adam Lambert, Kevin Chamberlain and Wayne Brady.

Hit a bad note

The annual Grammy Awards were postponed from its original broadcast date on Jan. 31 to March 14, due to a surge of COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles. Hosted by “Daily Show” host Trevor Noah, the awards will still take place at the Los Angeles Staples Center. Beyoncé leads the nominations with nine in total, while other nominees include Taylor Swift, Post Malone, Billie Ellish and first-time nominee Harry Styles.

XOXO, Gossip Girl Fans of shows such as “The Office,” “Gossip Girl” and “The West Wing” are disappointed by their removal from Netflix in January. Some of these shows were moved to other streaming services such as Peacock and HBO Max. While more shows and movies will be added to the streaming service in 2021, many fans of these beloved films are sad to see them go.

ONE TO WATCH This ad was featured on Fossil’s Instagram on Nov. 15, promoting their Gen 5 Smartwatches. Fossil did a holiday photoshoot with all figurine people. “I think [the pandemic] is showing how resourceful we are,” Fossil Head of PR and Communications Robyn Sills . “Normally there would have been like a big lifestyle photoshoot with models, and [instead, we] created it all with the art department.” Photo provided by the Fossil Group

relate to. And I think we knew it was important before COVID.” In the midst of the pandemic and conversations on injustice, retailers have had to ask themselves: Do we have a voice during all of this? Fossil Group has found that they do. “We’ve got a global audience, [and] we’ve got internal employees who are going through all of this in real time,” Sills said. “How can we use our resources and our platform to not only educate people about our products, but also try and give our customers what they’re really looking for right now?” Fossil has continued to reach their customers and create content in innovative ways, such as by leveraging influencers and brand ambassadors to engage online through platforms like Facebook Live. And like many companies, Fossil has shifted toward more direct to consumer behavior and further establishing their e-commerce. Many local retailers, however, do not boast the same online platform. In fact, McKinsey Group found that within manufacturing, apparel manufacturers are among the hardest-hit small businesses with 71 percent reporting a large negative impact. For example, Junior Esme McGaughy, an avid shopper who previously relied on local boutiques, has not visited any of these stores since the pandemic’s inception. McGaughy has instead adjusted to shopping online at larger retailers, such as Zara and Revolve. “Yeah, [online shopping] is easier, and there are more options,” McGaughy said. “I feel like you don’t really have to spend your whole day [looking] around––you have more options and you don’t have to set apart [allotted] time.” Because of this digital convenience, McGaughy believes that she will continue to do her shopping online even after the pandemic ceases. Years of digital adaptation have occurred in the past months. So the question arises––is our economy ready for a complete digital takeover?

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Democracy

inDistress By Emily Lichty Life Editor

Additional reporting by Blair Batson, Evelyn Zhao and Carolyn Langford

Photoillustrations by Evelyn Zhao

AS HER PHONE SPEWED NOTIFICATIONS DURING HER DISTANCE learning English class, senior Zaria Osimetha turned her camera off and muted her computer’s microphone. A surge of shock and devastation hit her as she saw the breaking news: the Capitol had been breached. “I couldn’t tell you a single thing that happened in that class because I was not paying attention,” Osimetha said. “I remember feeling heartbroken because I was stunned that it had gotten to that point, and I was so upset that the police were doing nothing and that the president wasn’t denouncing it. It really made it so salient the racial divide in our country. I just felt heartbroken knowing that this in fact is not a country of liberty and justice for all.”

BEFORE

While many expected Jan. 6 officially certified, few coul supporters stormed the U.S election victory for Presiden and conversation across the “I don’t think that I was extremely angry and frustr Osimetha said. “However, I thought that people would While some saw peacefu teacher Marcela Garcini, di Jan. 11 poll of 178 students, 7 “I was raised in another Garcini said. “We never tho country that is divided. I kn picture. [But] we [don’t] exp Many point to words spo for the actions taken by his to the Capitol in opposition students believe Trump’s la partially responsible. “Part of the problem, rea believe the truth, and then, false accusations of voter fr However, some disagree culmination of tensions ove “You look at the events o protests, the election, paire said. “When you add this al repercussions of the 2020 e

DURING

For many members of the s usual routine, prompting co “Seeing it was shocking, “I think, because [D.C. is] m looking at scenes of places difficult to see.” Similar to Baad, Rev. office of the Capitol bu “For me, it was a [Capitol] building, Kennedy said. “T [of ] that, which Occupied b occurred. Amo “I got to pl “I looked it up windows, a h this one?’ I w Surprise Political re experienc affected “I’m find tha That’s w do you For securit forcefu “I w becaus of the g

centerspread

6 to be remembered as the day the results of the 2020 Presidential Election were ld predict the turn the day would take. Around 2 p.m. on Jan. 6, a mob of Trump S. Capitol building in protest of the upcoming certification of the presidential nt-elect Joe Biden. Resulting in five deaths and 82 arrests, the riot sparked debate e country and among the student body on what actions to take next. surprised that [the riot] happened because I knew that a lot of people were rated with this election, so I’m not surprised that there was some sort of riot,” I was not expecting something to that magnitude. I never would have even even be able to breach the Capitol.” ul celebration or protest on Jan. 6 as a possibility, many, including Spanish id not anticipate the violent events that occurred at the Capitol. According to a 70 percent of students were surprised at the violent rioting to occur on Jan. 6. r country, and…we’re so used to seeing those things happen in the Capitol,” ought that would happen in the United States, and my biggest concern is to see a now that we’re divided, and I know that the election was very divided. We see that pect that people are going to react like that.” oken and tweeted by President Donald Trump before the Capitol riot as the cause s supporters. During a speech the day of the riot, Trump urged his audience to go n of the confirmation of the election’s results. Forty-five percent of upper school anguage was responsible for the Capitol riot; 26 percent believe his language was

ally the main issue, [is Trump’s] followers,” junior Casey Curtis said. “They don’t , they believe what the President has spread on his social media: false news and raud. That is part of what led them to the attack on the Capitol, in my opinion.” e that Trump’s words were responsible for the violence at the Capitol and see a er the past year as the main cause. of this year: the pandemic, the murder of George Floyd and Black Lives Matter ed with harmful rhetoric on both sides of the aisle,” junior Tucker Sachs ll up, the equation, unfortunately, makes sense. We didn’t know what the election were going to look like, but we definitely got our answer on January 6.”

school community, the events that took place at the Capitol interrupted the day’s onversations to take place in classrooms, at home and on social media. ,” Head of School, and former resident of Washington D.C., Dave Baad said. my hometown, that gave it an even more of a visceral emotional reaction. I was that I’ve walked around my whole life, and it was really shocking and really

v. Tim Kennedy also used to live in Washington D.C, working in the Speaker’s uilding for three-and-a-half years, adding to the surprise and poignancy of the event. really emotional day to know that the symbol of democracy, the physical , was also protecting people’s lives who [are] trying to do a sacred purpose,” This idea of self-government is not easy. There’s a lot of debate and anger and all h is okay if you use it in a productive way. What you saw there was not productive.” by classes, some students and teachers learned about the events long after they ong these students was Curtis. lay rehearsal, and they were talking about something at the Capitol,” Curtis said. p, and I saw all of these images: people breaking into the Capitol, people breaking herd of people, no masks, government insurrection, and I was like ‘when did I miss went off [of ] my phone for two hours, and this is what happened.” e surrounding the Capitol riot spread throughout the country and the world. reporter for NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth and co-host of Lone Star politics Julie Fine ced a shift in the direction of her news coverage as well as concern for those by the violence. m a human being, so it’s very difficult to cover things like this,” Fine said. “I always at after the news is over, I sit down and watch the news [myself ] and get caught up. when it really hits me. You’re affected by these things personally, and you have to ur job to do the best you can, but you’re affected by them, just like everybody else.” r many, the Capitol riots led to questioning the presence and actions of the ty present. Seventy percent of students believe the security at the Capitol was not ul enough. was very disappointed also in the leadership of the Capitol Police, se it never should have gotten to that intensity,” Kennedy said. “One great things about D.C. is that there’s a protest every day, and you

Jan. 15, 2021

can go and you have your voice heard. In D.C., that’s just part of normal business. The idea that they weren’t prepared on this particular important day is just really sad. It was a complete failure of leadership.” In addition, Osimetha believes the 2020 Black Lives Matter Protests and the D.C. Capitol Riot are comparable in regards to the differing responses from police. For instance, 65 percent of students believe that the police response at the Capitol was not as forceful compared to the police response at Black Lives Matter protests. “When you look at videos from the [Black Lives Matter protests], police were kicking people over, pushing people out of the way, like so quick to pull out their pepper spray and mace,” Osimetha said. “Then, I looked at videos of the riot––there was nothing. The police were so lenient and tolerant of very violent behavior, and I was just shocked. The racial undertones can be seen in both events, and when you compare them, I think it makes it more obvious how divided this country is.” However, some students disagree, believing a comparison between the two events is not appropriate. “You can only compare the two events in the sense that they are both just reasons to be upset that got out of hand,” freshman William Custard said. “The extremists on both sides pushed breaking points.” These conversations continued onto social media, where many voiced their opinions on the events and debated them with others, while calling for change. “I think whether or not you post about it or really make your voice known about the subject, I won’t hold that against you,” Curtis said. “Personally, I like to share my opinion, strongly [on social media]... I want my page and social media profiles, even though they’re very small, to be full of people who have the same opinions as me.”

AFTER As the chaos at the Capitol subsided, Americans began to look to the future, predicting the lasting impacts of the riots. “We’ve never seen anything like this at our United States Capitol, so there are many different ways to look at it,” Fine said. “We’ve never seen anything like this, so there’s a security aspect of it. There is the political aspect of it. There’s the emotional aspect of it. It affects America in many different ways. We watch horrifying images, very difficult images to watch. For everybody in America, it was just a very hard day.” Despite violent protesting at the Capitol, the certification of Biden’s victory still took place, with Biden receiving 306 votes and Trump receiving 232. Due to the interruption, proceedings lasted until 3:40 a.m. Many Republicans who promised to oppose the electoral college vote in favor of Trump changed their mind after the protests, such as Sen. Kelly Loeffler. “The important thing to acknowledge here is that, however rough it ended up being, democracy still prevailed,” Sachs said. “The legitimacy of our government, while flawed for sure, isn’t in question.” For Trump, the riots resulted in a permanent suspension on Twitter and suspension on other social media platforms, including Facebook, sparking conversations on the ethics of social media restrictions and whether those limits should have been implemented sooner. “Big tech companies have too much power over us,” Custard said. “I think banning Trump’s Twitter is unconstitutional, as it does not allow freedom of speech, and it is really scary to think these companies have this much power over us.” Also surrounding Trump are debates on impeachment or invoking the 25th Amendment, which could remove Trump from power with the support of Vice President Mike Pence. Regardless, Trump will not attend Biden’s inauguration, the fourth president to ever miss the event. “As much as I hate to say it, the claim that Trump has become a threat to the stability of the nation does have validity now,” Sachs said. “To me, at this point, we are so close to the inauguration that Trump’s political ability is limited, and frankly an impeachment inquiry or bringing forth the 25th would just ensure that his reputation is absolutely destroyed.” The impacts of the Capitol riots stretch all around the world. With other countries watching, many, including Garcini, are concerned that the chaos will result in a loss of respect for America. “Internationally, the way that [people] look at America is changing,” Garcini said. “We are always the mediators of different conflicts around the world. Now, how can we be the mediators when we cannot even control whatever is happening in our own country? This is going to have a domino effect.” In response to the events that took place at the Capitol, Baad sent out an email on Jan. 7 to parents and faculty of the school community, in which he elaborated on what he believes the school’s role is in “[contributing] to a democratic system grounded in rational discernment and civil discourse.” Specifically, Baad emphasized helping students determine what is fair and what is just. “We are living in an age in which [students] already are bombarded with information, and I think in order for you to understand, interpret, [and] analyze that information, being able to do that is going to be key for you to determine what is fair and what is just in this world,” Baad said. “You need to have great reading comprehension skills, really great reading comprehension skills and statistical fluency—because you’re going to get statistics thrown at you—and then the ability to reason and analyze. These are all things [the school needs] to develop in [students].” Many, including Kennedy, hope the riots create unification for the country, rather than division. Kennedy looks to the words E Pluribus Unum painted on the Capitol rotunda as a reminder of the unity present in the U.S. “This idea that we would allow people to storm the castle, just because their person didn’t win, it’s just the complete opposite of what we’re supposed to stand for,” Kennedy said. “We come from lots of different places with lots of different beliefs, systems, backgrounds, histories, families, cultures and languages, and all [of ] that is beautiful and awesome. E Pluribus Unum Is this idea of one that we are one nation under God, and that we should be working together to move the country together.”

percent of students think the storming of the Capitol influenced how they view the security of government institutions

percent of students think the storming of the Capitol made them want to stay more informed about politics

Source: Jan. 11 poll of 178 students

Images provided by Wikimedia Commons

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life

The Eagle Edition rated the best pies in Dallas, Emporium Pies comes out on top By Carolyn Langford Copy Editor Illustration by Emily Lichty

Emporium Pies The most well-known pie shop in Dallas lives up to its popularity without a shadow of a doubt. The flavors, which rotate seasonally, never fail to impress with decadence. I decided to go with their classics: Lord of the Flies, a caramel apple creation, and Smooth Operation, a chocolate endeavor. Lord of the Flies is a twist on the traditional apple pie topped with a brown sugar crumble and a caramel filling. Smooth Operation combines savory and sweet with a dense silk chocolate base and a salted pretzel crust. With three locations around Dallas, each placed in trendy strips, Emporium Pies has earned its place as number one.

Bird Bakery In the heart of Highland Park Village, this bakery offers a wide variety of lunch and sweets. The pastel-decorated bakery is ideal for a photo-op alongside their delicious pastries. There are usually five to six pie options, most of which are fruit-based. Each pie is sold in single-serving tins instead of slices, making for a clean presentation. I opted for the peach and blueberry cobbler, which was aptly garnished with fresh fruit. The pie itself was lackluster and did not meet expectations or raving reviews.

Piefalootin Located on an unsuspecting side street of Garland lies this gem of a bakery. Dozens of flavors await, ranging from the classic Texas pecan to their very own EuphOREO. Per the recommendation of the country-accented locals eating at the shop, I tried their classic buttermilk pie, the EuphOREO and Caramel Sawdust, which was described to be similar to the Girl Scout Cookie Samoa. The Samoa-like pie was similar in texture to a pecan pie but was a caramel and coconut flake base drizzled with chocolate. All three of the pies are worthy of a “good, not great” review. The lengthy drive and lackluster presentation take away from the creativity and quality of the pies themselves.

Humble The Bayou Goo, this pie shop’s most popular flavor, draws anyone with a sweet tooth inside. A traditional flaky golden crust meets a pecan-filled cream cheese layer and smooth chocolate layer for a twist on a Texas staple. The atmosphere is homey yet retro, perfect for its White Rock lakeside location. However, all the flavors are fairly basic and average-tasting. The name is awfully fitting for this bakery in that nothing is too over-the-top; it is no more than your local pie shop.

Jan. 15, 2021

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The opinions expressed in this section of the Eagle Edition do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper staff, school, adviser, faculty or staff

STUDENTS SHOULD SELF-QUARANTINE AFTER TRAVEL

n 2019, Americans took over this time it is vital to take the 800 million trips from July necessary precautions to insure the through September. Now, living safety of the community. through a pandemic, travel has Some ESD families have been been limited for most Americans. responsible after their travels. As students continue to travel and Sophomore Amelia Sinwell and her fly domestically or internationally family quarantined after traveling during holiday breaks, the Eagle to Florida over the Winter break. Edition believes that the only way The Sinwell family was careful in the community can continue to their efforts to keep the community stay safe is for students to selfsafe and they followed the CDC quarantine for 14 days after travel recommended guidelines for after and get tested. travel. It is important “I quarantined to note that while for 10 days and got I DO THINK IT airports and tested on the eighth WAS WORTH IT airlines have been day just as the CDC taking necessary guidelines dictate,” TO QUARANTINE precautions to keep Sinwell said. “While travelers safe, there quarantining has DURING THIS still remains a risk become a bit of a while traveling. monotonous chore at TIME AND I Social distancing this point, I do think ENCOURAGE guidelines become it was totally worth it very difficult to to quarantine during EVERYONE TO DO this time, and I would follow in crowded terminals and packed definitely encourage THE SAME. airplanes. Being in everyone traveling to these public spaces do the same.” with large numbers This year, the Amelia Sinwell, of people at a time community has sophomore can be risky while seen its fair share of COVID-19 cases are outbreaks and mass still rampant. quarantines. Virtual learning has The Centers for Disease Control been difficult and has especially and Prevention strongly advises been challenging for students who against travel during the pandemic have a difficult time focusing. We and that if possible, people should know that the virtual learning stay home. The CDC warns that environment is not ideal and travel “increases chances of getting contact tracing can be frustrating and spreading COVID-19” and that and difficult to navigate. While staying home is the best way to quarantining after a trip will not protect yourself and others. result in the total elimination of We understand the importance the spread, it can be helpful in of travel, especially at a time like aiding students to feel safer while this when anxiety in the community returning after a break. is high. Travel can assist in spending Although virtual learning can time with distant relatives. The put some students at an unfair Eagle Edition does not discourage disadvantage, the community has travel, we just believe that during to come together at this time and

students

speak out

Photoillustration by Maddy Hammett

understand that sacrifices must be made to ensure students, faculty and facilities staff can safely convene at school. Moreover, because this school year’s focus has been placed on putting others before ourselves, the entire community must be making sacrifices even though they can be inconvenient. If it is too much to ask that students quarantine for two weeks after travel, we ask that students at least be tested for COVID-19. While waiting for results, students should

stay home and learn virtually, significantly lowering the risk of a student potentially spreading the virus within the school. The Eagle Edition realizes that this is a very stressful time for students and that self-quarantining after a trip requires a lot of discipline and self-sacrifice. The school operates on an honor code, and we find that if a student has been traveling, it is within their honor that they quarantine for the benefit of the community.

SOPHOMORE BLAKE SCHEINBERG

”Quarantining after travel is especially important right now because of the rising rates of COVID-19 cases around the country. I recommend that everyone who travels right now selfquarantines.”

“I do think it is smart to quarantine after you go on vacation. When you go on vacation it’s super easy to get the virus in an airport, a hotel and so many other places. A smart way to keep everyone safe would be to go online for a few weeks after break. ”

“Essentially, we’re around people all day that we don’t know. Yet we don’t quarantine after we go out to do something. Same rule applies in my opinion to traveling.”

Grace Knudson asst. photo editor

Satori Griffith

art & design director

Victoria Willox

news editor

Gina Montagna

Elisabeth Siegel

life editors

Luke McCabe & Emily Lichty

staff writers

Gardiner Vose

web editor

sports editor

cartoonist

copy editor

business manager

faculty adviser

Lauren Weber Jiaying Fu Carolyn Langford

views editor

Smith Cochran Sloane Hope

The Eagle Edition is a student-produced newspaper published six times a year with the intent to educate in a professional manner and provide a voice for the Community. The Eagle Edition has earned Gold and Silver Crowns from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, Pacemaker Awards from the National Scholastic Press Association and Gold Stars from the Interscholastic League Press Conference. Circulation is 1000 copies, and the student population is 782.

communications director

Maddy Hammett, Callie Hawkins, Katherine Mote, Christian Rockamore, Alexandra Warner and Grace Worsham

managing editor

Source: Jan. 10 poll of 178 students

FRESHMAN MCKENNA DUNCAN

photo editor

Blair Batson & Evelyn Zhao

percent of students believe that students should quarantine after travel

SOPHOMORE AMELIA SINWELL

MISSION STATEMENT

editors-in-chief

Sumner Wooldridge Ana Rosenthal

ADVERTISING POLICY The Eagle Edition is partially funded through advertising. The editorial board reserves the right to refuse ads not in the best interest of our readers. Ads are sold in 1/8 page increments. Please contact the Business Manager: hopes@esdallas.org.

EDITORIAL POLICY The staff abides by the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics.

The opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of the adviser, faculty or staff. This is a student-run publication and a forum for student voices. All images in the Eagle Edition are student produced, republished with permission, are in the public domain or fall within fair-use practices for criticism and news reporting.

BYLINE POLICY All articles, graphics, photos, art, columns, page design, reviews or other material produced by Advanced Journalism students carry the creator’s byline with the exception of the Staff Stance, which is the official, collective voice of the Eagle Edition.

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Photoillustration by Gina Montagna

McDonald’s uses McRib to increase profit The McRib is not a seasonal dish, rather a cheap publicity tactic Luke McCabe Life Editor AFTER YEARS OF ANTICIPATION, McDonald’s finally re-introduced their hot menu item known as the McRib, effective Dec. 2. For the first time since 2012, the McRib was served in an effort to allay the 2020 year of disappointment and pandemic fear. In an effort to better understand the hype, I journeyed to my local McDonald’s drive-through to try it during my break. After placing my order and waiting behind a few cars, who it seemed were waiting for the same McRib experience as I was, I received my sandwich complete with, as Homer Simpson put it, “a patty made from the ribs of God.” I was so excited to taste it. I hate to disagree with Homer Simpson, but after tasting the processed pork sub complete with pickles, onions and McDonald’s tangy BBQ sauce, I was left disappointed. The McRib sandwich is exactly what we all thought it was: a mediocre meal whose only appeal is the mystery and scarcity that surrounds it. The overprocessed slab of pork, which oddly resembled a real rack of bone-in ribs, was disconcerting, especially after researching the questionable meat restructuring process that forms the patty. To make it worse, the sandwich is drenched in sauce which causes the bun, and the minimal amount of napkins I was given, to get soggy and gross. However what interested me most about the sandwich was the odd habit of showing up for a few years and then being whisked away only to make another grand return, so I did some research. The McRib was introduced in 1981 and re-introduced in 1989, 2005, 2012 and 2020 in countries around the world, and many of these re-introductions have occurred during a period of low pork prices. McDonald’s claims that the McRib is a seasonal commodity due to its decreasing marginal utility, but RestFinance found that the 2005 and 2012 McRib “comebacks” occurred after 15 percent drops in pork prices over short periods of time. This indicates that the McRib is exactly what we thought it to be. A cash grab that waits for Americans to forget how mediocre the McRib is.

Trump to blame for Capitol rioters, violence ensued Trump encourages his supporters to storm the Capitol leaving government officials shaken after their lives were put in danger by their own president Gina Montagna News Editor THE EVENTS OF JAN. 6, 2021 WILL GO down as a day when American terrorists stormed and ravaged their own Capitol building in an attempt to protest the results of a fair election, while promoting racist and white supremacist ideals. Wearing Neo-Nazi shirts and flying confederate flags, President Trump’s supporters broke their way through barricades and windows and vandalized a place so full of history and justice. The only other time the Capitol building has been attacked was during the War of 1812, when British troops burned the Capitol in 1814 as an act of vengeance. Who would expect America’s own citizens to rise up and ravage their own government building, putting their own representatives in harm’s way? The blame for this attack fully goes to Donald J. Trump. He excited his own mob of supporters that morning and said, “We’re going to walk down, and I’ll be there with you. … We are going to the Capitol,” in an attempt to propel his supporters into violent action and stop the certification of the election results. Unfortunately for his supporters, Trump did not walk alongside them to the Capitol. Trump and his family sat idly by, and watched the assault erupt through a television screen. These Trump rioters told the press that they were there in the name of patriotism to contest the election and fight for their freedom. However, recounts took place in various states, lawsuits were overturned and even the Republican leaning Supreme Court dismissed Trump’s case of election fraud. Trump supporters were not being stripped of their freedoms and neither was Trump. Yet,

Emily Lichty Life Editor

banana taped to the wall by a piece of duct tape is worth a hefty price in the art world. At first, this piece of art, created by Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan in 2019, titled “The Comedian,” seems ridiculous. All it contains is a single banana, carefully taped to the wall with a piece of silver duct tape. The Guggenheim Museum, however, purchased the piece for over $100,000 last September, complete with 14 pages of instructions on how to install and maintain the exhibit. The immediate reaction to a conceptual piece of art often includes a question like “What’s so special about a banana taped to a wall?” or, the usual, “I could have made this piece of art myself.” Technically, most of us could have crafted our very own version of “The Comedian,” ourselves. The problem with that argument though is that we didn’t. Typically, the definition of conceptual art, according to The Guggenheim Museum, is “based on the notion that the essence of art is an idea, or concept, and may exist distinct from and in the absence of an object as its representation.” Conceptual art has grown as an art form over the past several decades and has been met with severe criticism, with

Trump continued to spin his web of lies and manipulate the minds of his supporters in order to still have political influence during the last days of his presidency. After the crowds were under control, senators and congressmen returned to their chambers to certify the election results, placing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the official President-elect and Vice Presidentelect. Trump’s own Vice President Mike Pence addressed the Senate condemning the acts of violence and said that “To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today, you did not win. Violence never wins. Freedom wins, and this is still the people’s house” and shared his disapproval for what Trump and his supporters did. However, Pence was not the only Republican who went against Trump’s wishes in continuing the certification process. Majority leader Mitch McConnell addressed the Congress and said that for the good of the nation and the people, he could not override or vote against confirming the election. In his strong speech he declared that if “This election were overturned by mere allegations from the losing side, our democracy would enter a death spiral. We’d never see the whole nation accept an election again. Every four years would be a scramble for power at any cost.” McConnell also denounced the double standard that Republicans have created toward Democrats when it comes to questioning election processes and results. Even Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler, who had originally sided with Trump, refused to dispute the election results even after losing her own run-off election to Democrat Raphael Warnock.

After the breach of the Capitol, some Republicans are reconsidering their alliance with the Trump administration. Trump put their lives in danger by inciting this mob of violent rioters. It is about time that Republicans realize that Trump does not represent Republican values and is only in support of a racist regime that places him as the idol. The Republican Party is going to have to work hard to disassociate their image from Trump and his supporters after they showed America their true colors on Jan. 6. It is embarrassing for Trump supporters to be acting in such an anarchist manner after criticizing the Black Lives Matter protests of the same thing. Trump supporters, particularly those who have long stood with the Republican Party, need to wake up and realize they have been manipulated. They have succumbed to Trump’s belligerent sea of lies and the creation of his own radical and violent fandom that they have become a part of. The flying of Confederate flags and destruction of the Capitol are not what any American should stand for. We cannot let ourselves fall victim to the constant battle for power between political parties. As Americans, we must continue to take steps forward to better our country and condemn racism and chaos such as those events. I have hope that this event serves as a reminder for all Americans and government officials that we must not stray into violence and disorder. Elected officials need to reach across the aisle and work together now more than ever to stabilize our nation and reinstate the political respect between parties.

Conceptual art pushes boundaries Simplistic and eccentric pieces of art should be appreciated as modern artists interpret art subjectively some suggesting that the art is too simple or “obvious” to hold artistic value. According to a poll of 178 students, 13 percent of students do not think that conceptual art holds the same value as other art forms. Criticism of conceptual art misses the point entirely: art can be found anywhere, even in the mundane. Art is subjective––something that holds significant meaning to one person may not hold that same meaning to another. If art is to be used as a form of expression and imagination, it should not be limited. Conversations sparked by conceptual art, such as “The Comedian,” hold value on their own. Art is meant to be discussed and interpreted by its viewers and used to examine the world in a different way. Even if a piece of art appears to be “simple” when first viewed, that does not mean that it is not complex, proved by the amount of public attention given to “The Comedian” after its purchase. Contrary to popular opinion, conceptual art doesn’t undermine the value of other pieces of visual art but holds a completely different style and approach to the idea of “art.” Similar criticism to “The Comedian” was observed in 2019, when British street-artist and political activist Banksy’s “Girl with Balloon” famously shredded itself after being sold at an auction for $1.4 million. In response to the shredding of the painting, many, including famous street artist Shepard Fairey, noted that the message Bansky meant to send is that the concept of a piece of art is more valuable than the actual object itself.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, contains several examples of conceptual art, including Cubanborn American visual artist Felix GonzalezTorres’ “Untitled.” The piece contains around 50 pounds of green candy wrapped in cellophane that is meant to be touched and eaten by the viewer and continuously replenished, incorporating the viewer into the creation of the piece and breaking the tradition that art is not to be touched. Such re-definition of the word “art” is essential to the evolution of concepts and ideas created by artists. We should welcome the creation of pieces by artists such as Bansky, Gonzalez-Torres and Cattelan that shock us and lead to discussion with others. However, the growing popularity of conceptual art raises the question of where the “line” should be drawn between valuable and invaluable creations. Does this mean that every human creation: a scribble on a piece of paper, an empty soda can leftover from lunch or a blank canvas should be seen as having its own intrinsic artistic value and importance? That is for creators, and viewers, including myself, to debate for years to come. Conceptual art is reassuring for those who see themselves as “untalented” when it comes to art. Now, more than ever, anyone who wants to share their point of view artistically––regardless of artistic skill and talent––can. It is time for us to appreciate the value of conceptual art and to make art accessible to any and all people who desire to be immersed in it.

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Jan. 15, 2021

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Should the president have so much power?

Graphic by Grace Worsham

Zander Knight Guest Columnist

Pro: Yes

Donald Trump has been no stranger to flexing the muscles of the executive branch in his four years of presidency. He has personally withheld congressionally authorized funding from Ukraine over issues regarding President-elect Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden; ordered a military strike that killed Iranian Official Qasem Soleimani and passed over 200 executive orders in his four year tenure. These facts beg the obvious question of “Is the Executive Branch too powerful?” And, while Trump has certainly made ample use of his privileges, the Executive Branch does not have an exorbitant amount of them. The easy argument for checking the president’s power is the checks and balances system, which was put in place for this exact purpose. For example, while the president can make vetoes of congressional legislation, Congress can override these vetoes with a two-thirds majority vote. For example, this year’s bill outlining the budget for the Department of Defense was vetoed by Trump for not including Section 230 of the communications code, which Congress overrode. Although Congress is never usually on the same page, the ability exists for them to check the President should the need arise. Furthermore, the President’s power is critical for emergencies, as he can usually act much quicker than Congress could in pressing situations. The best example for this is in 2001, where George W. Bush was critical to implementing the Patriot Act to counter terrorism in the wake of attempted assassinations of politicians using Anthrax and 9/11. The bill, while hotly criticized for infringing on the privacy of Americans, purportedly foiled many would-be terrorist plots, according to FBI Director Robert Mueller, although other sources disagree. However, in recent days, it has become extraordinarily clear that a president like Trump can take advantage of these powers to satisfy his presidential agenda in ways that could be called corruption. Notably, he abused his position as president to incite a coup attempt to stop the Electoral College ballot counting at the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6. However, this travesty is, in my opinion, not the result of an overpowered executive branch. All the proper channels exist already for the Legislative branch to check the president. It lies squarely on the shoulders of Congress to hold the president accountable for any wrongdoings he has committed, and they have so far failed to collectively move to impeach him. Executive power is not the issue in this situation, it is the gross failure of Congress at multiple points to properly check his wrongdoings. If we want to avoid turmoil in the future, we have to be more careful about the legislators we elect who have the power to impeach him.

percent of students think the president does not have too much power

Victoria Willox Art & Design Director

Con: No

As the political climate in the United States is becoming increasingly polarized, it is more important than ever to actively balance powers of the president, which can become excessive if left unchecked. Regardless of political parties, the U.S. has seen the damage a president can inflict on a country when they abuse their powers. One of the most notable examples of presidential abuse of power is the Watergate Scandal under the Nixon administration, which caused widespread distrust in the government to spread. However, there are many other more recent examples of presidential abuse such as Obama’s involvement in Libya without proper Congressional approval. These recent events undermine the Constitution and the core values of American democracy, thus providing ample evidence for the need of further limitations on the powers of the president. One such power awarded to the president that has the most potential for abuse is the ability to issue executive orders. Executive orders are directives issued by the president to federal or state agencies and don’t require Congressional approval. The greatest check on executive orders is that they are still subject to judicial review, meaning that they must comply with the constitution but other than that the president has freedom to order nearly whatever he wishes. The original intention was that executive orders should be used sparingly and as a last resort, but over time they have become increasingly commonplace with Franklin D. Roosevelt issuing 3721 orders, the most of any president. Furthermore as Chief of State, Chief Executive, Commander in Chief, Chief Diplomat, Chief Legislator and Superpolititian the president has too many responsibilities to manage them all effectively. Many presidents have struggled to balance their presidential duties by focusing on one area they oversee and neglecting others such as focusing too much on foreign policy and neglecting domestic affairs. If the powers of the president were more easily managed the office could be more efficient, effective and lower the possibility of neglect or abuse. Presidential pardons are another presidential power, with little checks, that hold enormous possibility of abuse. Many presidents have used this power for personal gains or interests. When President Ford took office he pardoned his predecessor Nixon, who was being investigated by congress for Watergate, which came under extreme scrutiny by the public. Additionally, President Clinton pardoned his half brother after he faced drug related charges, which was blatant nepotism. These are just two examples of a history of the misuse of presidential pardons, which disgraces the presidential office. Thus, it is clear that the powers of the president may be growing too vast for our nation and must be curtailed to avoid corruption which could surely tarnish the name of our highest office and our nation.

percent of students think the president has too much power Source: Jan. 11 poll of 178 upper school students

Community service sparks beginning of baking business

B Grace Worsham Staff writer

aking has always been a passion of mine ever since I was tall enough to see over the kitchen counter. It has been a safe place for me where I can let my stress out in a healthy way. In the past, I always helped everyone with any form of cooking or baking and snuck bites of food to eat while they weren’t looking. Baking reminds me of my grandma’s warm pancakes with maple syrup and homemade peach ice cream or my mom’s Christmas sugar cookies. The smell of those cookies permeating through my house brings the kind of nostalgia that transports you back in time. Until a couple years ago, the purpose of my baking was solely for fun. It was when one of my mom’s friends, Sally Dutter, introduced me to an organization called Genesis Women’s Shelter. She explained the organization’s cause: to serve as a safe haven for women with or without kids in abusive relationships. As Sally explained this, she said that one of the donations they accept are baked goods of any kind. I was immediately hooked because I strongly believed in their cause and was excited that I could serve them. I began baking for them that very day.

The pandemic has not stopped me or the need at Genesis, and I still bake for them almost every weekend. I have baked about everything imaginable, from petit fours to mini blueberry muffins, for the beautiful women and children at Genesis. And I have come to realize that the one thing better than baking is baking for those in need. This very shelter is what inspired me to create my own baking business. It had always been an idea of mine, but I never felt like it was the right time. Then a few months ago, I decided I shouldn’t wait any longer, and with much trial and error, Cookies for a Cause came to be. I knew I wanted part of my profit to go to a specific organization, but I couldn’t decide who to donate to. I could donate to Action Against Hunger, WWF, GreenPeace, etc., but I finally decided to donate 50 percent of my profit to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center’s COVID-19 fund. I can always change the places I donate to, but I decided that COVID-19 is most prevalent right now. I have baked 40 hours so far, resulting in $70 in donations. I simply made a donation through the UT Southwestern website, which was quick and easy.

To make it simple, I settled on four types of cookies to sell: chocolate chip, sprinkled sugar, monster and oatmeal raisin. And I even made a logo to put on stickers. My main clients consist of extended family, friends, and acquaintances who have heard of the business. Although I have not been doing this for long, it has been a rewarding experience so far. It has had its ups and downs though. Testing out five different oatmeal raisin recipes can get a little trying at times, but it has been worth every minute. Baking gives me a small piece of what it may be like to own my own bakery one day. That is, if I don’t pursue my other passion of being an FBI agent in the Behavioral Analysis Unit. But even if I never open a bakery, this experience has taught me how much goes into actually running a business, and it also emphasizes the idea that giving back to people not only makes their day, but your own as well. I did not start my business for money, I started it to reach out and give to more people who are in need. There are so many challenges in the world, but just remember the smallest action makes a huge difference no matter how young or old you are. Everyone can use their talents for a good cause to help others.

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‘The only time that matters is now because it’s the only time when we have any control.’ And we relinquish the little control we maintain by not fully living in the moment. Although we can easily deceive ourselves into believing that the past or future can be altered by our thoughts, they ultimately lie out of our hands. St. Augustine’s view of time has helped me to conceptualize mindful

living. In contemplating the reality of destroying the one Ring––the of time, he came to the conclusion epitome of all evil in Middle Earth. that nothing really exists except Naturally, Frodo is a bit down about for the present moment; ergo, it’s this twist of misfortune, and says, “I inaccurate to say that there are three wish the Ring had never come to me. tenses––past, present and future. I wish none of this had happened.” Rather, St. Augustine believed that That is when the wizard Gandalf there is a present of past and future gives what I believe to be one of the things, which lies in our memories greatest lines of advice: and mental simulations. But the past “So do I, and so do all who live and future in and of themselves do to see such times. But that is not for not exist. This perception resonated them to decide. All we have to decide with me, especially in the midst is what to do with the time that is of a pandemic. given to us.” Although we all Acceptance, long for a virusalbeit a hard free time, perhaps mindset to we need to accept achieve, is not only ALL WE HAVE where we are now, cathartic, but it can for only then can help you to move TO DECIDE IS WHAT we learn to adapt forward and live and potentially seek TO DO WITH THE presently. But for solutions. those who enjoy But for me, TIME THAT IS GIVEN a more practiceat least, I needed based approach TO US. to do more than to achieving re-evaluate my mindfulness, I conception of reality suggest starting J.R.R. Tolkien, for the concept with meditation. “The Lord of the Rings: The of mindfulness to I know, I know. Fellowship of the Ring” really take hold. I remember That is why I the first time propose two further someone suggested “exercises” (not meditation to quite sure what to me––I was highly call them): acceptance (abstract) and skeptical, which I now feel ignorant meditation (concrete). Let’s discuss admitting. At the time, the idea the former first. of sitting still and doing nothing A key component of moving but focusing on clearing my mind forward in life is acceptance–– sounded both daunting and boring. primarily, acceptance of where you However, it’s a worthwhile activity; are now. Acceptance is productive, we should all learn to be still and and it puts you in a position to do nothing sometimes. For anyone do something about your current wanting to start meditating, I suggest state of being, whether that be to downloading the app, Headspace; improve upon it or to change it. To it guides you through the steps and help get this point further across, makes the whole process a lot easier. I can’t help but mention one of Conscious living is not something my favorite quotes (and pieces that is achieved overnight; it takes of profound wisdom) from “The practice and effort. Still, the sense of Lord of the Rings.” Frodo, the main fulfillment that it brings is more than character, has been given the burden worth it.

is supposed to be one of the most secure buildings in the nation. One of the most upsetting aspects of this event, though, is the relative lack of security during the raid compared to the Black Lives Matter protests. When mostly peaceful protests were happening in Washington, D.C., the Capitol steps were lined with armed guards in riot gear. Why wasn’t sufficient security in place during the riots and storming on Jan. 6, especially given the overwhelming evidence of advanced planning and statements of intention? Why was there far less security during a hostile takeover of the most important building of the United States, while both the House and Senate were convened, and some of the most important members of our government were together, than during mostly peaceful protests taking place outside of the Capitol? And, to add insult to injury, those demonstrations were held to protest unjust and cruel murders, as opposed to protesting a democratically held election, in which the winning candidate won both the popular and the Electoral College votes.

While dissent and protest are at the very heart of democracy, and the halls of our Capitol have many times been filled with the voices and bodies of people trying to express their points of view, none of these people have ever brought in zip ties in contemplation of kidnapping the leaders of our freely formed government, intentionally raided government offices and read the personal information of our public servants, stolen podiums, crushed Capitol police officers between doors, etc.. While we have the First Amendment right to seek redress, we do not have the right to overthrow a democratically elected government. These events also bring up frightening security questions. What if foreign actors had taken advantage of the chaotic situation to bring in catastrophic weapons and steal crucial information? And, doesn’t this send a message of weakness about the security of our government buildings? What is the precedent being set for future generations and elections if we let this event go unpunished, while our own president says nothing of it, but, “Go home.

THOUGHT

We should practice mindful living, learn to think in the present By Lauren Weber Managing Editor

f you’re like me, then you probably spend too much time focused on the past or the future. Granted, within moderation, it can be productive to think behind or ahead, whether that’s learning from a past mistake or planning your schedule for the next week. The problem is when we excessively examine these tenses without deliberation or purpose, when we ruminate on

previous experiences, contemplate alternative choices that could have been made or cling to memories. In other words, when we allow our impulses or emotions to dictate our cognition, we lose the power to examine objectively. Spending unreasonable time thinking about the past or future is not only unproductive, but it’s futile. Leo Tolstoy said something like,

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Dear Eagle Edition, On Wednesday, Jan. 6, I witnessed the most disrespectful and unpatriotic event of my life, and a day that will be remembered with shame and sadness by generations. Domestic terrorists broke into, and in some instances even waltzed freely, into the Capitol of the United States of America to “protest” what officials, Democrat and Republican, note as the most secure election in U.S. history. In fact, the definition promulgated by the FBI for domestic terrorism is well met by these individuals: perpetrating acts dangerous to human life in violation of the laws of the United States, intended to affect the conduct of

government, by mass destruction, assassination or kidnapping, occurring primarily in the United States. They stole artifacts. They wreaked havoc on Congressional halls. They murdered, attacked, and terrorized law enforcement officers. They smeared feces on the hallowed walls of one of the most historic buildings in our country, the heart of our nation. And they brought to a halt a constitutionallymandated function of both houses of Congress, specifically the official tallying of Electoral College votes. Congressmen and women were put into lockdown, like school children during a shooting. Somehow, these citizens were able to penetrate what

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CORNER

The Student Council just finished the 12 Days of Christmas virtually before Christmas break. Coming back from break, we are working on doing some fun winter things in person. Because we were online, we were not able to do a lot of the activities we were looking forward to for the 12 Days of Christmas, so we are going to try and do them or come up with some other fun activities to do that aren’t so centered around Christmas. We recently got the numbers back from the Eagle’s Nest that we were able to raise $2,202 for St. Judes through the Noshember masks. We are so thankful to the student body for staying excited about Noshember and supporting our fundraiser. The Student Council is about to start working on the freshman leadership retreat which will most likely look very different this year because of the virus. We are thinking it will be similar to how we did the virtual

leadership retreat this summer with lots of breakout rooms and activities to keep everyone engaged. We know virtual retreats can be a little less fun, so we are really going to work to make it as engaging and fun as possible so the freshmen can get the most out of it. We are also going to start planning Student Body Week and try to figure out if dances are possible for the future. We are hoping to continue the teams and make Student Body Week a competition. Before COVID-19 we were planning on doing an Olympics for Student Body Week, but most of the activities were team-oriented, so we are trying to figure out what we want the week to look like and brainstorm other safe ways to build community. The student body has been so great about cooperating with us. They have understood that there are so many things we can’t do this year and they have also gotten really excited for what we have planned, such as the team competitions. The Student Council will continue to try and make ESD the best it can be, and if anyone has any questions, concerns or ideas for this year don’t hesitate to reach out. By Cleo Neuhoff Public Relations on Student Council Executive Board

We love you.” No condemnation. No admonishment. A declaration of love, embedded in a forced statement. This event proved many things. First, it is a clear example of white privilege in this country. If a majority of those protesters had been people of color, the outcome would most likely have been entirely different. Secondly, just because you brandish an American flag, does not mean you are a patriot. And finally, we all need to do better. We need to encourage moderate candidates that will look out for every American. I beg of each and every one of you who is eligible: please vote in primaries. We desperately need better candidates. Bipartisan leaders. Level headed, peace-oriented, humanitarians, who are not afraid of compromise or standing up to the dangerous factions of their constituencies, as opposed to flattering them. I am truly confident we can move past this and use it as a spring-board to a better future for the citizens of the United States. Our Democracy is worth the effort. Sincerely, Lily Yandell, senior

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Jan. 15, 2021

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count DOWN THE WORST TO THE BEST OF THE MONTH, RANKED BY THE JOURNALISM 1 CLASS

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THE LOVE OF LATE STARTS Studies have shown that the advantages of sleep include lower stress levels, better grades and improved mental health. With the late start for second semester, upper schoolers have a greater opportunity to embrace these advantages. The late start allows more time for students to meet with teachers and for clubs to hold meetings—something that many found challenging last semester. A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. MAYBE. The Pfizer Vaccine was approved in late December by the FDA to be administered to people over the age of 16. Distribution began immediately, and the vaccine has since been given to more than 151,000 Americans according to the New York Times. The Moderna vaccine was approved a few weeks later. These vaccines provide at least a sliver of hope to go back to a pre-COVID-19 world. SNOW IN DALLAS On the 10th day of the new year, snow fell in North Texas for the first time in far too long. The preceding days were filled with anticipation as the forecast predicted varying chances of snow in the Dallas area. Although the moment was fleeting, many Texans were in awe of the rare sight. NEW YEAR MEDIOCRITY The hope and expectation that generally accompany a New Year’s celebration was not as rampant as is typical on Dec. 31. Although we are confident things will get better, 2021 has yet to prove itself to be a particularly good year. Even though a vaccine was introduced, COVID-19 is still mutating and spreading rapidly. Furthermore, the political division that plagued 2020 does not seem to be dying down. But things can only get better from here. Right?

IN TYPICAL COWBOYS FASHION

POST-HOLIDAY QUARANTINING

In a year of constant disappointment, the Cowboys failed to bring levity into fan’s lives. They entered the week of Nov. 16 with a 2-7 record. If they won all their games after Nov. 16, the Cowboys would have finished 9-7, and gone to the playoffs for the first time since 2018. Instead, in typical Cowboys fashion, they won four games and lost three, diminishing their chances of going to the playoffs or grasping a high draft pick. The Cowboys should have thrown their last few games, clutching a top three draft pick. Instead they continued to hope for a chance of making the playoffs, disheartening fans all across the country.

Many students find themselves at home quarantining after the holiday break. Traveling over the holidays and school sports have contributed to the large number of upper schoolers now learning from home. As of Jan. 11, 52 students and three faculty members, in the upper school, are quarantined, with four active cases. Since Aug. 17, there have been a total of 33 confirmed student cases in the upper school. CHAOS IN THE CAPITOL On Jan. 6, after President Donald Trump spoke at a rally, his supporters attacked the Capital to “Stop the Steal.” The attack occurred while politicians were confirming President-elect Joe Biden’s electoral win. At least five people were killed. Many called upon Trump to stop the attack. Pressured, Trump later released a video and asked his supporters to go home. Over 80 arrests have been made so far.

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editors Blair Batson and Evelyn Zhao

n Sept. 30, 2020, Gallup released a poll with some harrowing statistics. According to the poll, only 9 percent of U.S. adults have a “great deal” of trust and confidence in the media to report the news “fully, accurately, and fairly.” Thirty-one percent have a “fair amount” of trust. Twentyseven percent have “not very much” trust. Thirty-three percent have “none at all.” Public trust in the media is vital to a functioning democracy, as it’s the media’s role to inform citizens, give them the tools to form their own opinions, and make people accountable for their actions. In order to remedy this issue, news outlets need to make improving public trust one of their top priorities and individuals need to confront their confirmation biases. To start, major media outlets need to better disperse themselves across the country. Jack Shafer and Tucker Doherty of POLITICO found that as of 2016, 51 percent of publishing employees lived in counties that Hillary Clinton won by at least 30 points during the 2016 presidential election. This concentration of journalists in liberal-leaning areas is contributing to the public’s eroding trust in the media. Take the 2016 presidential election for example: one explanation for the press’ off predictions is a lack of understanding of the whole country. The American Society of News Editors’ 2019 Newspaper Diversity Survey found that on average, U.S. newsrooms are 58 percent male, and that white reporters are overrepresented by 24 points. A critical step to increasing public trust in the media is having newsrooms improve their diversity because in order to accurately tell people’s stories, reporters must be able to empathize with and understand them. But all of the responsibility in improving public trust in the news media should not

fall on the media industry. As humans, we also need to learn how to consume news more responsibly. Specifically, schools should require courses on media literacy to cultivate responsible news consumers. A responsible news consumer analyzes the credibility of their sources, puts their trust in reputable sources, and embraces the facts. We live in a time of intense partisanship where people believe what confirms their bias and disregard anything that challenges their views; in other words, we often let our confirmation biases get the best of us. However, the news and the facts are not always going to be favorable to our political beliefs, and we must accept that rather than ignore information or turn to disreputable sources. If people acknowledge all facts—those that not only support but also challenge their beliefs—then their trust in the

The bright side by Sumner Wooldridge

news media may increase. On Jan. 6, we witnessed the repercussions of mistrusting the news media when a mob of President Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol to protest the certification of the election. Reputable news outlets had repeatedly stated that the election was free and fair and that the results were accurate, not fraudulent, yet those who stormed the Capitol chose to believe President Trump’s rhetoric and misinformation from faulty sources. We can’t know if this was done out of mistrust for the news media, a desire to believe what is appealing to them, or both. But we do know that misinformation disrupted the functioning of democracy. News outlets need to work to build public trust, and we need to be better, more responsible consumers of the news. Our democracy depends on it.

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JUNIOR VARSITY SOCCER PLAYER FINDS LOVE FOR THE SPORT When did you start playing soccer?

Do you have a role model in the sport?

What’s your soccer favorite memory?

What position do you play?

I started playing soccer when I was probably around five. I just played with girls that I went to school with in my elementary school. I’d say probably around 10 or 11, I started playing club soccer on Sting, which is a club team and that’s where [I started] advancing to higher levels. I played club soccer until eighth grade. [After that], I just played ESD soccer. I think I started [playing] because I wanted to play a sport and my sister was already playing soccer.

Kind of my whole life, I’ve always looked up to the [U.S.] womens national team, especially Alex Morgan. I think she’s kind of a lot of young girls’ role model just because she’s been the captain of the women’s team and she has led them into winning multiple Olympic medals and Olympic championships. I think she’s a good person on and off the field, so I see her and Cristiano Ronaldo [as my role models]. I’ve been number seven my whole life because of him.

Honestly, high school soccer is such a blast, especially SPC. I mean, just the hype of playing in such an exciting tournament and playing against teams you’ve been playing against all season, especially the Hockaday rivalry. I think that’s honestly the most exciting game, the whole day you’re looking forward to it. In the locker room before [the game], we’re all listening to music, getting amped. Even though last year we lost in the quarterfinals, I think it’s still just such a fun tournament to play in with your friends.

I grew up playing club soccer, I was a forward and I loved it, but when I started playing for ESD I played either defensive or attacking mid freshman year. Sophomore year I played defensive mid and I honestly love it because I think I’m kind of a versatile player so I like being able to defend and attack at the same time. I think one of my skills is being able to kind of have somewhat of an eye on the field, and so I think that’s a good position to be able to make big points for the game and push the ball. I think that’s probably my best position, and I really enjoy it.

Junior Lauren Sedwick’s love of soccer began at a young age and has continued on through high school. She was ranked in the 2020 Dallas area all-district girls team and continues to show her leadership in soccer by encouraging her teammates. She is excited for this season despite some COVID-19related setbacks.

Interview by Katherine Mote Staff writer Photo provided by Lauren Sedwick

Retired womens varsity soccer coach experiences health challenges Mike Renshaw deserves tribute after years of dedication to ESD community By Lauren Weber Managing Editor

oach Mike Renshaw —where to begin? Perhaps with his four consecutive SPC titles, notable professional soccer career, or the indelible impact he left on all of his players. Born in Manchester, England, Renshaw began his soccer career as a left winger for Blackpool Football Club youth team. With an interesting turn of fate, a newspaper advertisement brought him to Texas to try out for the Dallas Tornado Soccer Team of the North American Soccer League in 1968. Before retiring in 1976 due to knee problems, Renshaw played on other European teams, played six times with the U.S. Soccer National Team and was named MVP of the NASL’s first ever indoor tournament. His coaching record was no less stellar. After earning the highest coaching qualification from the United States Soccer Federation and coaching the Dallas Tornado himself, Renshaw led the school’s varsity women’s soccer team to four SPC state championships in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. As Renshaw is currently battling health issues, this is a tribute to his incredible career at the school, with favorite memories from some of his best players.

BLING Former varsity womens soccer head coach Mike Renshaw displays his SPC rings in 2018. Renshaw coached at the school for 10 years and achieved 68 wins and four SPC championship titles. Photo courtesy of the Eagle Edition V36 Issue 3

FAVORITE MEMORIES FROM PLAYERS Gillian Campbell ‘18 “Mike was not only a coach, but a guide. He taught us about life and

soccer. He was no frills; he told it like it was, and he never had any regrets. He had a ‘have fun,’ but “take no [nonsense]’ kind of attitude. This led to me rearing a lot of adages from him. My favorite was: ‘People make time for the things that they care about.’ It is still a quote I reference at least once a week [and] a quote I live my life by. Mike taught me that people show up for the things that mean the most to them, and he always showed up for ESD soccer because not only did ESD soccer mean the most to him, he was ESD soccer. We had a lot of great soccer memories, but the memories that stay with me the most are the life lessons he taught me.” Sarah Mcginn ‘17

“I think my favorite memory of Mike actually doubles as one of my

favorite soccer memories of all time. We were playing Greenhill my senior year, and we were down; it looked like we might lose, which was something that we very much were not used to. And I just remember at halftime, Mike didn’t say anything; he just let the seniors speak. And so I got up there and told the team not to worry, that I was confident in every single one of us and that we just weren’t gonna lose, we just didn’t lose. And in that moment as I was saying that, I realized how much Mike had impacted us because since we were freshman he had been telling us that every single day––to not worry, to never fear losing, and that he had the most confidence in us. And he told us that in life, not just in soccer. And I think it’s still something that I’ve taken to this day. And we ended up winning that game, and the look on Mike’s face afterwards is something that I’ll never forget. He was so proud of us.” Ellis Miller ‘17 “There’s just so many good memories. But one of them would have to

be right after we won our first SPC championship, we got back on the bus, and Mike played ‘We are the champions,’ and sang to it at the top of his lungs because he was just so proud of us and knew how much work we put in. That kind of became tradition for us.”

sports

Jan. 15, 2021

Reduced sports practices affect mental health Students have not been able to practice with their teams and interact with their teammates to the same degree this year, causing changes in routines that have affected the athletes’ mental health By Smith Cochran Sports Editor

rustrating and persistent. were positive which just happened The two words senior to be at the time were my teammates football captain Reece and coaches.” Huggard used to describe Those lessons and values taught his summer without regular football in sports carry over to other aspects workouts. Huggard did his best to of a student athlete’s lives. According train on his own, but, according to AdventHealth, a Christian to him, it wasn’t the same. While health website, playing a sport working out has clear physical increases concentration and mental benefits, working out as a team sharpness. provides physical, mental and social “One can learn many lessons benefits. from sports that are usable in The National Library of Medicine academics,” upper school learning conducted a study in 2014 on counselor Dr. Hilary Higbee said. Canadian high school student “Practicing leads to improvement. athletes looking to see if there’s a Analyzing your performances can correlation between physical activity help you figure out where changes and stronger mental health. Eight are needed, and watching those with hundred and fifty students were a better game can give you ideas a part of the study in 10 different about what to change.” high schools. The study found that Burke has seen these positive the students who effects not only in participate in any herself, but also kind of sport enjoy in her two sons, better mental both who heavily health than those participate in who do not play athletics. Brodie BEING IN A TEAM sports. Burke ‘20 is a SETTING GAVE Three member of the years after the football team ME THE SUPPORT original study at Southern was conducted, Methodist SYSTEM THAT I researchers University, and reached out to sophomore Patrick NEEDED. the participants Burke plays varsity and questioned football and soccer. them about their “Regular depression feelings, John Franklin, exercise has been womens basketball coach stress levels and proven to improve overall mental brain functioning, health, asking aid in quality of them to rate those sleep, result in on a scale of one increased desire to being the lowest eat a healthy diet, to five being the highest. Those that and reduce feelings of anxiety and participated in sports as a high school depression,” Burke said. “Activity student answered with higher scores begets activity. The more active you than those who did not play sports in are, the more you crave activity. The all three categories. more you sit around on the couch, “[Sports provide] the feeling of the more you find yourself wanting to being a part of something bigger sit on the couch more and it becomes than ourselves,” Associate Head difficult to break out of that cycle. of Upper School Ruth Burke said. Same would be true of gaming or “[Being] a member of a team or group almost any singular activity.” working toward common goals, and But although participating in engagement in a community are sports can have positive effects critical to happiness and well being, on student’s mental and physical again this can be in a variety of health, it can also have negative venues, not just sports.” repercussions. There are instances Sports create social interaction by where sports hurt a student’s chance putting students together to achieve a at academic success as well as his or similar goal. Athletic teams create an her mental wellness. environment where all participants “If it is so late or an athlete is are pushed toward a team mindset so tired when getting home from and they work together. practice that they are unable to “Being in a team setting gave me complete their work their learning the support system that I needed,” can suffer,” Higbee said. “The ups womens basketball head coach John and downs of sports—winning or Franklin said. “[Basketball] is more losing, playing or not, stronger and of a distraction in a positive way. It weaker performances—can take an allowed me to focus on developing emotional toll that might impact into the best player I could by academics negatively, but can also working at my craft. That kept me out help build confidence to take on of trouble, and I learned to surround a challenge or come back from a myself with like-minded people who defeat.”

Graphic by Gardiner Vose Sports teams brought everything to a halt last spring when the COVID-19 pandemic began to escalate. Senior lacrosse and football player Michael Bagley felt the mental and emotional weight after his lacrosse season was canceled. “Everything started canceling and when the season got called off entirely it hurt badly,” Bagley said. “I became somewhat depressed to the point where I was seeking help just so I could talk to someone about how I was feeling.” After online school ended in May of 2020, Bagley kept a similar

86 78 percent of students believe that participating in sports is good for their mental health

percent of students think that playing sports has a positive impact on mental health Source: Jan. 11 poll of 178 upper school students

routine of waking up, sitting around the house, and going back to sleep. It wasn’t until football practices started in August that changed and improved his mental state. “Even though we had to stay distanced, just being outside and around my friends for what was pretty much the first time since COVID started gave me so much energy and was something to look forward to,” Bagley said. “Football [gave me] a break from the monotony and a time where I could feel normal again.” Especially in a time where feeling

connected is so tough, athletics create positive environments for students and serve as a healthy distraction from the plights of everyday life. “The pace of life is elevated when my boys are engaged in something they enjoy and that spills over to the rest of their life,” Burke said. “They are better students in the classroom when they are engaged in a sport. There is a heightened commitment to making good decisions about health and nutrition and wanting to practice or workout more, even when they don’t have to.”

Involvement in sports is related to greater

hippocampal volume in both boys and girls, and is related to reduced depression in boys. Source: Washington University in St. Louis research

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Olympics postponed, safety becomes priority for Japan Postponement increases the game’s cost, Olympic athletes’ training affected Story and Graphic by Alexandra Warner Staff writer

ntil 2020, the last time the Olympics didn’t take place as scheduled was during World War II, when the games were cancelled. Due to COVID-19, the 2020 Olympic Games were postponed until July 23, 2021, making the games of the XXXII Olympiad the first in history to be postponed. Some student-athletes who had been looking forward to the 2020 Summer Olympic Games were disappointed that the games had been postponed, as they couldn’t watch their favorite athletes compete. “I was sad when the Olympics were postponed until next summer because I really like to watch different countries compete [in] volleyball,” sophomore and varsity volleyball player Layne Scheinberg said. “I play volleyball competitively, so I was excited to watch Walsh Jennings play beach volleyball, but I’ll just have to wait until summer.” The 2021 Olympics will be hosted by Japan, but the country’s borders have been closed since April of 2020 and many are questioning whether they will open their borders by the time of the games. To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, organizers announced that they may limit capacity in the Olympic village. And athletes will

be asked to leave immediately after they finish competing. But plans will continue to change. Amanda Neuhoff, parent to Jack Neuhoff ‘17, Scott Neuhoff ‘19, senior Cleo Neuhoff and freshman Charlie Neuhoff, worked at the Atlanta Summer Olympics in 1996 and was in charge of volunteer staffing in Centennial Olympic Park. “The host city must provide training facilities for the athletes so they can stay in shape while they are waiting for their events to occur,” Neuhoff said. “The athletes can come and go as they please. They don’t have to stay for the entire games and they also don’t have to show up until it is time for their event. Now with COVID being a concern, I don’t know what Japan will be planning to ensure the safety of the athletes.” The International Olympic Committee is assuming that not everyone attending will be vaccinated by July. Organizers have talked about the IOC vaccinating visitors as a sign of respect to the host country. “It would be great if there was some way to verify that all attendees were COVID-free,” Neuhoff said. “But I don’t know how they can do that and also get everyone into and out of events in an efficient manner. The difficult challenge with COVID is the delayed appearance of symptoms or the fact that someone can have it but be asymptomatic.” It costs countries billions of dollars to host the Olympics, as they must provide venues and infrastructure such as hotel rooms being built and airports needing to be updated and constructed. Japan has spent over $12 billion preparing for the Olympics. Some even estimate that the country has spent $26 billion. Postponing the games has cost the organizers more than $1 billion, and the IOC has doubled

their contribution to the organizers to $1.6 billion to help with the cost. “The host cities are usually responsible for providing and building the venues,” Neuhoff said. “How each country decides to raise the money to build out everything varies greatly. The Olympic Committee usually gets its money from sponsorships like McDonald’s or Coke and they usually have certain standards that must be met in regards to the venues and how the athletes are treated which can create some tension between them and the host city.” For athletes, COVID-19 has disrupted their training for the Olympics, making it especially hard to stay in shape. Scheinberg can relate to the disruption that COVID-19 has caused in athletic training. “In the spring, my old club shut down in March, but to continue training we would have Zoom practices where we would do drills that involve footwork, self passing, and workouts to keep ourselves in shape,” Scheinberg said. “Not being able to play in games and practice with my teammates made me lose some of my skills temporarily. It was a struggle to regain them during the summer before school season.” Although there are many concerns about the 2021 Olympics, some think that it will be the light at the end of the tunnel—that after the world has conquered the pandemic, the 2021 Summer Olympics will be the event that reunites the world. “The most significant [aspect] of the Olympics is the entire world coming together for a joint experience,” Byron Neuhoff, who ran with the torch in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, said. “I can’t think of any other occasion where the entire world is focused on one shared event.”

Training at the top level COACH SUSAN QUILL HAS BEEN THE school’s womens varsity soccer coach for a year. Formerly, she was a soccer player at the University of North Carolina, from 1999 to 2002, and simultaneously, the U.S. National Team, in 1998 to 2000. Like an Olympic athlete, her schedules were extremely hectic and very different. Similarly, she had to put in hard work for both college and the national team; however, training at the collegiate level required being proactive. “While playing a sport in college, the athletes are on a rigid schedule,” Quill said. “Between classes, lifting, practicing, traveling and studying, there isn’t much down time. The tight schedule taught me to manage my time efficiently.” Playing on the U.S. National Team was very different as she had to dedicate all her time to playing with them. In this case, sports came first over education. “When you are with the national team, you are only with the national team,” Quill said. “For instance, in the second semester of my freshman year in college I was training with the Olympic team in San Diego. So, I had to drop out of college for the semester to only train.” When Quill left collegiate to play at the next level, many people along the way questioned her about the “sacrifices” she made. As an athlete playing at such a high level, loving the sport is crucial to making someone a better player. “To be the best at anything requires hard work. It’s grueling,” Quill said. “You have to love it. For me, it wasn’t a sacrifice. I like having goals and I looked forward to every practice, game, travel, and challenge.” Because of COVID-19, school sport games and practices, such as soccer, and the Olympics have been postponed. “I would be devastated if a season or big tournament were canceled due to COVID-19,” Quill said. “Athletics and being on a team are so much of my fabric, drive, and community. It is tough to put sweat and time into something that doesn’t equate to a final.”

sports

Jan. 15, 2021

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Out of the Orlando Bubble

With the 2021 NBA season starting up, attendance remains limited and virtual By Elisabeth Siegel Communications Director

he NBA and NBA player’s season is different, many fans are union began the 2021 season glad the teams aren’t just reduced to on Dec. 22, out of the bubble playing in the bubble. for the first time since “If you watched the games in COVID-19 struck. August in the bubble with the virtual Over the summer, players fans, they weren’t as entertaining,” continued their season in the senior Christopher Hess said. “It Orlando Bubble at Walt Disney wasn’t because the basketball wasn’t World. The isolated zone kept teams as good, but because the arena was safe from spreading COVID-19 so quiet you could hear the squeaks during the final of sneakers rather eight games of than the roar of the 2019-2020 the crowd when season. Now, the somebody shoots regular-season an amazing shot. action continues [Spectators] but is reduced to definitely help with IF WE CAN JUST 72 games. Players momentum swings who test positive for KEEP EVERYBODY and the energy. The the virus have to sit fans not only make out for 10 days and the games more fun HEALTHY, OR AS go through a series but also bring the HEALTHY AS WE of steps until they player’s intensity play again. Fans can levels up. It makes CAN, GET US INTO expect players with the whole energy in symptomatic and the building better.” MARCH AND APRIL, serious cases’ timeInstead of out to be longer. THINGS ARE GOING holding an All-Star “It’s working game, there will TO GET REALLY FUN. be a break from well so far,” NBA Commissioner action March 5 to 10 Mark Cuban, Adam Silver said that separates the Mavericks owner on CNN during a two halves of the panel discussion. season. This gap “I would say my gives players a sixfavorite emoji has day break from the become the ‘fingers hectic schedule. crossed’ one.” “I watch [the Individual games] every year,” player workouts ran from Dec. 1 to 5, sophomore Madison McCloud with group workouts from Dec. 6 to said. “I want to see all the new and 10 and the preseason from Dec. 11 to incoming players and all the all stars. 19. Each team played a minimum of They can all show off their talents two games and a maximum of four and do creative contests.” games as part of the NBA’s 49-game The trade deadline will occur preseason schedule. after March 3 instead of its typical “I’m so ready for basketball date around February. The decision again,” Mavericks owner Mark of fans being at games will be Cuban said in an interview with made on a team-to-team basis with SiriusXM NBA Radio. “I’m so ready approval from local and state health for us to get some normalcy… [during officials. The Dallas Mavericks are the preseason] the guys were very allowing limited guests, using seating attuned to all the issues and safety charts and event capacities to ensure risks and really stuck to the script.” physical distance. Hess is debating This season will be different from whether or not he will attend games previous seasons, first and foremost in-person. the decrease of the typical 82 games “If I do go to one it will be later down to 72. Second, teams play in the season obviously because two consecutive games in the same COVID is really bad right now and city with the same team in order there’s kind of a big COVID outbreak to reduce travel rather than having between the players right now,” Hess the games spread out. Although the said. “I need to look into the stands

Graphic by Evelyn Zhao and see how spaced apart the fans are because I would prefer to be more spaced apart than in the past. If I do go to one it will probably be March, April, or May depending on what happens.” As of Monday, Jan. 11, the Mavericks total number of positive COVID-19 tests rose to four, according to the Dallas Morning News. As a result, the league and NBPA set new health protocols in place for the next two weeks, such as stricter mask wearing and distancing with less socializing. “If we can just keep everybody healthy, or as healthy as we can, get us into March and April, things are going to get really fun,” Cuban said

in the SiriusXM interview. “I think those last couple months of the NBA season are going to be incredible, where people are going nuts at games, fans are going to sports bars to watch games. Every game becomes an event. It’s just going to be really, really exciting.” Cuban is optimistic about the new Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. The league is planning a vaccine education program before the players have to decide whether they want to take it. “I am a big believer in the vaccines,” Cuban said in the same interview. “I’m a geeky guy who does a lot of the research on this stuff, it’s my personal belief that by March, April at the latest, we’re going to have

a huge snap back where most of the people in the country will have had access to it if they wanted, people will have taken it, and people are going to be going nuts just to go outside, to go to games, to yell and scream and not worry about it and have fun.” Many believe that spectators add spirit and purpose to the games, but with the pandemic, the spirit will be lacking. Due to limited attendance, many people, such as McCloud, will only be watching on their TV. “As a fan, [being in person] makes you get more into the game,” McCloud said. “As a player, you feed off the crowd’s energy and they make you want to work harder for your fans.”

2020-21 NBA Season Timeline

All-Star break Dec. 22 – March 4

NBA Trade Deadline March 11-May 16

March 5-10

First Half of regular season

Play-In Tournament May 13-15

March 25

Second Half of regular season

May 22-July 22

May 18-21

Class of 2020 Hall of Fame Enshrinement

2021 NBA Playoffs

Source: National Basketball Association

sports

Jan. 15, 2021

National League should adopt designated hitter permanently to improve League’s TV viewership and ticket revenue

By Smith Cochran Sports Editor

t’s time. There’s no reason to keep avoiding it. During the odd 2020 MLB season, the league decided to adopt a universal designated hitter. A designated hitter is a player who solely hits for the pitcher and does not play in the field. This was the very first time the National League allowed a designated hitter, compared to the American League that always has used one. To put it into context, the National League was created in 1876 and the American League in 1901 as two separate professional baseball leagues. They merged in 1903 but the NL did not adopt the designated hitter rule the AL had in place. There is no reason why the NL should not keep the designated hitter rule. Television ratings have been steadily declining since 2012, according to the New York Times, and many younger demographics have labeled baseball as a boring sport. While millions of people across the globe disagree with that statement, the best way to gain viewership is offense. Offensive

fireworks bring in crowds and TV viewers. Collegiate and professional football has shifted to an offensiveheavy game and baseball needs to do the same. Generally, professional pitchers can’t hit the ball. And that’s an understatement. Drew Pomeranz, one the best pitchers in the lead, has a dreadful .135 career batting average. Seth Lugo, another top pitcher in the league brags an awful .158 average. These are two examples of a larger whole and it’s more of the same. Pitchers aren’t able to step into the batter’s box with confidence and make solid contact like the other position players. This by no means is because they’re incapable of doing so, but rather because they practice pitching all the time. No one goes to a baseball game hoping to see a pitcher take cuts, but designated hitters have filled stadiums in the American League for years. Most notably Babe Ruth and David Ortiz, two of the greatest hitters of all time, were designated hitters. Ortiz helped carry the Boston Red Sox to three World Series wins. Simply, modern MLB pitchers aren’t focused on batting practice or meeting with hitting coaches, so why are they expected to

hit in the lineup? It’s because of tradition. Traditional baseball fans enjoy one league using a designated hitter and the other not. They enjoy the tall and skinny pitcher awkwardly swinging in the batter’s box as they touch a wimpy 4-3 groundout. Without debate, pitchers are liabilities in the box just as a football offensive linemen would be a liability covering a skilled wide receiver. Again, almost all pitchers aren’t skilled hitters, but there are exceptions. The Los Angeles Angel’s Shohei Ohtani is the major exception to this accurate generalization. Ohtani is a Japanese born pitcher and designated hitter, the only of his kind. He was rookie of the year in 2018 while hitting and pitching winning the majority of his games as a pitcher while hitting 22 home runs. He throws with his right hand, but he bats with his left. The man is a baseball enigma and a total exception to this rule. The designated hitter would lead to more offense, and it could also lead to higher success and win percentage among National League teams. For example, in the 2020 season, the Atlanta Braves signed designated hitter Marcell Ozuna

to a one year contract to attempt to boost their offense. This move was huge for Atlanta, for they ranked first in total hits and second in total No. runs in the MLB. It was a major improvement from the 2019 season when they ranked 10th in hits and 7th in runs. Ozuna gave the Braves improvement and helped the team come one win away from the world series. Pitchers serve as a free out for opposing teams, and that needs to come to an end. If a pitcher is skilled enough and interested in hitting in the lineup, by all means let them. Major League Baseball is looking for ways to attract new fans as well as keep current fans buying tickets, and the National League could help that by adopting the universal designated hitter rule. Because of the NL using a designated hitter in the 2020 season, baseball fans now know how useful and dangerous one can be for a team. Joc Pedersen, 2020 World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers’ designated hitter hit .400 with a home run and three RBIs in the 6 game world series. That is an enormous lift that the Dodgers used to win a world series that would not Most home runs hit by NL player, have been possible if there was not a Marcell Ozuna, a designated hitter designated hitter.

eagleedition

episcopal school of dallas Jan. 15, 2021

memorylane

Every issue, the Eagle Edition looks through photos in the school’s archives and selects a moment to look back on.

I LOVED BEING A PART OF the program. It was so special to have had memories as a senior buddy and a fifth grader because I got to give my buddy the same experiences I received. Luke Logan ESD Alumnus

SENIOR AND HER FIFTH GRADE BUDDY SHARE LUNCH TOGETHER OUTSIDE ESD’S CAMPUS IN 1982. THE SENIOR AND FIFTH GRADE BUDDY PROGRAM IS AN iconic and longstanding fifth grade for my English class,” alumnus Luke ESD tradition that has been Logan ‘19 said. “But when I was a senior in high a staple of the connection school, I had a lot more fun with the tradition, between middle and upper getting to eat and do projects with my little school for decades. Although the tradition buddy.” was canceled for the first time due to The program is widely regarded as one of the pandemic this year, the tradition will ESD’s most valued traditions among students continue in the future. and alumni. It serves as a reminder for future “I have been involved with the fifth grade classes that community, tradition and Father and senior buddy program since I have Swann’s legacy will always continue to be a part been at ESD, which has been 22 years,” Fifth of our academic community. Grade Dean Ellen Neill said. “My favorite “The senior [and] fifth-grade buddy events memory is making Christmas ornaments represent what Father Swann instilled in our and decorating the Christmas trees. Fifth hearts that every child is made in the image of graders and the seniors gather in the god,” Neill said. “When the fifth graders meet and study commons [to] make the ornaments see their buddies, it shows how important every together as we listen to Christmas music... child is at ESD.” wearing ugly Christmas sweaters [and] Our staff could not identify the names of eating candy canes. Nothing better!” the students pictured. We would love to find Neill said that the tradition has gone out! If you have any information regarding the through very few changes over the years. students featured in the picture above, please However, the program is now meant to be email us at eagleedition@esdallas.org. more about camaraderie and community rather than academic discovery. “I remember interviewing and writing a By Luke McCabe Life Editor biography about my buddy when I was in